German court rejects lawsuit alleging COVID vaccine side effects
A regional court in Germany has dismissed a woman’s lawsuit over health issues that she claimed were side effects of the coronavirus vaccine that was given to her. The woman had demanded compensation for pain and suffering she claimed were caused by a vaccine.
The regional court in Mainz, located in western Germany, dismissed her claim and ordered her to pay court costs for bringing the lawsuit.
The judgement, however, is not yet legally binding.
The woman’s lawyer promptly announced plans to appeal, calling the court’s decision “erroneous” and “a slap in the face for all those affected.”
Earlier on Monday, July 3, German courts prepare to hear two civil cases against the manufacturers of Coronavirus vaccines for allegedly damaging the health condition of some persons.
In one of the cases, the Regional Court in Rottweil in the south-western state of Baden-Württemberg is scheduled to hear the lawsuit brought by a 58-year-old man for damage to his health, which he attributes to a Coronavirus vaccine from German firm BioNTech.
He is demanding 150,000 euros ($163,600) in compensation for his suffering.
In addition, the court is to determine if BioNTech is obliged to compensate for possible material damages.The Mainz-based company considers the man’s accusation to be unfounded.
Meanwhile, an appeal hearing in a case against AstraZeneca is also starting at the same time at the Higher Regional Court in Bamberg in Bavaria.
A regional court dismissed a woman’s lawsuit against the British-Swedish pharmaceutical company six months ago. The plaintiff however appealed against the ruling.
The two civil cases are among the first against Coronavirus vaccine manufacturers in Germany.
