The owners of a New Haven restaurant have filed a COVID-19-related federal lawsuit in Connecticut, alleging the city’s mayor maligned the business, often used as a gathering place for events for the mayor’s political adversaries, on television over the coronavirus.

Michael Amato and Joy Monsanto, owners of 50′s Lounge LLC, filed suit Friday. They allege New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker went on WTNH-TV, the state’s ABC affiliate, on March 20 claiming 50′s Lounge had been operating in violation of Gov. Ned Lamont’s rules on how many people can occupy restaurants during the pandemic.