Haidilao

A Shanghai court ruled in favor of Haidilao in a lawsuit against two minors, Tang and Wu, and their parents, over an incident where the minors urinated into a hot pot at a restaurant. The court ordered Tang and Wu (through their parents) to issue apologies and mandated the parents to pay RMB 2.2 million (approximately $300,000 USD) for damages, cleaning, operational losses, reputational damage, and legal fees. Haidilao’s claim for RMB 23.26 million was rejected, as the court deemed the 10x compensation to customers a business decision, not a legally claimable damage.

A viral video alleging a customer urinated in a Haidilao hot pot led to public outrage and reputational damage. Two minors were detained. A court ordered them and their parents to apologize and pay approximately $319,000 USD in damages for financial losses, brand damage, cleaning, and legal fees. The *People’s Daily* emphasized responsible behavior. Experts say the ruling stresses corporate liability and reinforces guardian responsibility for minors’ actions, protecting businesses from illegal interference and building a fair business environment. It highlights crisis management, brand protection, and individual accountability in China.