Plaintiffs filed a lawsuit against the Focaccetta restaurant with the Jerusalem District Court on Sunday, claiming NIS 7 million in compensation for allowing its customers to smoke in breach of the law.

One of the complainants, Irit Shemesh, has already sued the restaurant for the same offense in the past and was awarded NIS 1,300.

In that incident's ruling, the Supreme Court said the restaurant was breaking the law by allowing its customers to smoke on its premises.

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Despite the fine, the plaintiffs claim the restaurant owners have continued to ignore the law while diregarding customers' complaints.

Ash trays are on the tables, smoking signs are nonexistent and no separate smoking area has been designated, the plaintiffs claim.

They claim that the Supreme Court ruling caused a precedent that lead to the fining of other restaurants of sums between NIS 1,000 and 4,000 for each person exposed to cigarette smoke.

As a result, they are asking each non-smoking customer that ate at the establishment between May and June 2007 be given a similar sum.

They added their goal is not to make a profit, but enforce the rule of law and put an end to passive smoking that increases risks of developing cancer.