A federal judge in Cape Girardeau has ordered Chinese defendants to pay Missouri over $24 billion for hoarding personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. The defendants, including the People’s Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party, violated federal laws against monopolization of trade. Judge Stephen Limbaugh Jr. entered a $24.5 billion default judgment in Missouri’s favor after no defendants appeared at the trial. Missouri demonstrated significant harm in the form of lost tax revenue and increased state expenditures on PPE due to hoarding. The Chinese Embassy slammed the lawsuit, threatening reciprocal countermeasures.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey called the decision a “landmark victory” and plans to seize Chinese-owned assets in Missouri, including farmland owned by Smithfield Foods. Former Attorney General Eric Schmitt, who initially sued China in 2020, praised the ruling on social media. Limbaugh had previously tossed Missouri’s lawsuit in 2022, but an appeals panel ruled in 2024 in favor of one of the state’s claims.
The judgment applies jointly and severally to the nine defendants, including various Chinese government entities and organizations. Limbaugh, a veteran jurist and cousin of late commentator Rush Limbaugh, issued the judgment, emphasizing the harmful effects of the defendants’ actions. Missouri’s damages exceeded $8.16 billion, leading to the $24.5 billion judgment. Despite China’s pushback, Missouri intends to enforce the ruling and collect the awarded amount from the defendants.
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