Missouri Wins $24 Billion Judgment Against China in COVID Lawsuit
A federal judge recently ruled in favor of Missouri in a lawsuit against China’s Communist Party, ordering a $24 billion judgment. The lawsuit accused China of hoarding protective supplies during the coronavirus pandemic, which caused major disruptions worldwide.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey called it a significant victory. He stated, "This is a landmark victory for Missouri and the United States in the fight to hold China accountable for unleashing COVID-19 on the world." He added that despite China’s failure to attend the court proceedings, the state would pursue every dollar by potentially seizing Chinese-owned assets, including farmland in Missouri.
Bailey's office highlighted that this judgment was six times larger than the previous largest judgment in Missouri’s history.
Judge Stephen Limbaugh’s ruling confirmed that Missouri presented enough evidence to hold China’s government accountable. The judgment amounts to $24.5 billion, plus additional interest.
The lawsuit named multiple Chinese entities as defendants, including the People’s Republic of China, the Communist Party of China, and several government bodies related to health and emergency management, along with Wuhan City and the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
In a post on social media, Bailey wrote, "Hey China, You owe Missouri $24 BILLION. I just won a judgment in court. Pay up — or we start seizing assets and farmland."
The case was originally filed by former Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, accusing China of obstructing the production and distribution of crucial medical supplies like personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic. The lawsuit gained momentum after a court of appeals ruled in Missouri’s favor in January, overturning a lower court's dismissal of the case.
