On September 12, the Popular Court of the Shanghai Huangpu district issued its sentence in the shocking case of two 17 -year -old boys who urinated in a Haidilao hotpot at the beginning of this year.
The Court ordered teenagers and their parents to publish public apologies and to pay 2.2 million yuan (about $ 309,000) in damage to the restaurant chain, according to People’s Daily.
Studding of compensation:
- 130,000 Yuan for disposal, replacement and sterilization of all tools
- 2 million yuan for reputational and commercial losses
- 70,000 yuan in legal fees
If minors have personal goods, compensation will be deducted first, with the parents covering the rest.
The case dates back to February 24, when teenagers dined in a private room in a Haidilao branch. During the meal, they climbed the table, shouted in the hotpot and filtered the act. Three days later, one of them loaded the online clip, where he quickly became viral and aroused a widespread sentence.
March 12, Haidilao He issued excuses, stating that all the tools had been destroyed, the completely sterilized restaurant and reimbursements data to 4,109 customers who had eaten there during that period. The company also voluntarily offered compensation equal to 10 times the value of customers’ invoices.
Two days later, Haidilao He filed a cause that asked for excuses and 23 million yuan (over $ 3.2 million) in damage.
The Court established that the actions of teenagers were deliberated and seriously harmful to the reputation of the company, doing HaidilaoExpenses for disposal and legitimate sterilization. However, the decision to reimburse and compensate for excess customers was considered a voluntary commercial choice, not subject to compulsory compensation.
Although less than 18 years old, teenagers were considered able to understand the illegality of their behavior. Therefore, both their parents must take civil liability.
Professor Zhu Xiaozhe, vice -president of the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics Law School, said:
“This verdict reminds their parents their duty to supervise their children. Minors must respect ethics and public order. If they violate the rights of others, civil liability are assumed. At the same time, this sentence confirms that business rights must be protected by law, since commercial operations constitute the foundations of the economy.”
While public opinion continues to examine the case, it is both a warning for young people and a precedent for companies that seek protection of their reputation pursuant to the Chinese law.
Sources: people daily
