By AP
PONTIAC, MI –
Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson has withdrawn a lawsuit filed against the state over a smoking ban that's set to take effect May 1 following calls and e-mails from the public.
Patterson spokesman Bill Mullan said the lawsuit was filed Thursday afternoon with the Michigan Court of Appeals, but residents of the county that includes Detroit's northern suburbs made it clear they opposed the suit.
Patterson had claimed the law was an unfunded mandate for county health departments to enforce and said he wouldn't enforce it.
The state, however, said it was helping with enforcement and a lawsuit would be a waste of money.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm in December signed the law requiring that most work places, restaurants and bars be smoke-free.