Parental Responsibility

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 Chinese couple sued an auto manufacturer for 2 million yuan after their son died from head compression caused by a faulty car seat. The Shanghai court rejected their claim of a design defect and inadequate warnings, sparking online debate. The court emphasized parental responsibility for child safety. Experts highlight that parents bear the primary responsibility for ensuring their children’s safety, saying the lawsuit reflects a commitment to fairness and justice, preventing product liability from shielding parental negligence.