Court strikes down mall talk rules

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ROSEVILLE, Calif., Aug. 17 (UPI) -- A California appeals court struck down a mall's rules banning strangers from talking about subjects other than the mall while inside the facility.

A three-judge 3rd District Court of Appeals panel issued a 43-page opinion Wednesday describing the rules, which ban the unacquainted for discussing anything other than Roseville's Westfield Galleria mall and its stores while in the mall, as "unconstitutional on their face" due to violations of free speech as outlined in the California Constitution, the Sacramento Bee reported Tuesday.

The mall's rules, which were previously upheld by Placer Superior Court Judge Larry Gaddis, allow for conversations between two strangers on non-mall related topics only if an application is submitted 4 days in advance and approved by officials.

"We are reviewing the court's decision and will consider our options, including appeal to the California Supreme Court," Westfield spokeswoman Katy Dickey said.