Missouri’s efforts to sue China for $25 billion in a lawsuit accusing the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) of hoarding personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic can move forward. This comes after a court of appeals ruled in the state’s favor.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit ruled in favor of the state’s case moving forward on Thursday, Jan 30. In the ruling, it states, “Missouri has plausibly alleged that the defendant’s anticompetitive behavior had ‘a direct effect in the United States.’”
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The panel granted Missouri’s motion to reverse a previous ruling that threw out the lawsuit against China. The lawsuit alleged China was hoarding masks, ventilators and other important medical equipment from the United States and in effect Missouri.
Now, Missouri’s legal battle against Beijing will go on for now.
Missouri’s Attorney General Andrew Bailey celebrated after the panel of judges ruled in favor of the state’s efforts to recover damages for lost lives, jobs and harm caused by lack of access to readily available medical equipment.
“We will continue to fight for accountability for the horror communist China unleashed on Americans in the form of COVID-19. We are headed back to court to pursue remedies for all Missourians. I’m proud of this win on behalf of the American people,” Bailey said in a statement.
As Straight Arrow News previously reported, Beijing warned of potential retaliatory legal action. The country suggested the U.S. could lose immunity in Chinese courts if the lawsuit moves forward.
Missouri’s lawsuit was originally filed in 2020. The lawsuit accused China of covering up critical information about the COVID-19 virus. A federal judge later struck down that lawsuit.
However, under the latest ruling, Missouri must narrow its argument to the hoarding of PPE to have a legal grounding in the case.
