CBS and the Palm Beach Post both reported (March 13) that the Berman Law Group, a law firm in Boca Raton, Florida, filed a class-action lawsuit on March 12, to hold the Chinese government accountable for the deadly coronavirus now sweeping America. The lawsuit, which names five plaintiffs from Florida, seeks class-action status for any American injured or affected by the coronavirus. The law firm said none of the plaintiffs have been diagnosed with COVID-19. The suit alleges that the Chinese government “knew that COVID-19 was dangerous and capable of causing a pandemic, yet officials acted slowly, proverbially put their heads in the sand, and/or covered it up for their own economic self-interest.” Jeremy Alters, chief strategist at Berman Law Group and father of plaintiff Logan Alters said “No nation, particularly a rich world superpower like China, should be able to get away with what it has done. It suppressed information from the global medical community that could have averted or minimised the damage that has been done.” Among other claims, the suit is alleging negligence on the part of the Chinese government and is requesting a jury trial. While the Chinese government could ignore the suit, a consultant with the Berman Group told reporters there are economic ways to ensure the Chinese government comply with the court process, including targeting various bank accounts and relying on treaties between the U.S. and China.
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