Restaurateurs file class action suit against PM, others, demanding 50 million baht
People eat lunch at a street food restaurant implementing social distancing measures with plastic dividers on the tables after the Thai government relaxed measures to combat the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, in Bangkok on May 7, 2020.
Thailand began easing restrictions related to the COVID-19 novel coronavirus on May 3 by allowing various businesses to reopen, but warned that the stricter measures would be re-imposed should cases increase again.
Thailand’s Civil Court accepted a class action lawsuit today (Monday), filed by a group of 39 restaurateurs in Bangkok and upcountry provinces, demanding 50 million baht in compensation from Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and the others for damage to their businesses caused by lockdown restrictions imposed under the Government’s Emergency Decree.
The group is led by Mr. Duangrit Bunnag, the proprietor of The Never Ending Summer company, and Mrs. Sor Rattanamani Polkla.
Mrs. Sor told the media this morning, at the Civil Court, that the group are seeking redress from the prime minister, finance, interior and public health ministries and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, for their collective mismanagement of the efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and in the issuance of restrictions, rendering damage to their businesses.
Mr. Duangrith, meanwhile, said that none of the eateries have received any financial help from the government for their losses resulting from the lockdown measures.
Eateries located outside malls have been especially hard hit and many of them have been forced to shut down because they were unprepared to adapt to delivery services.
The court has set the first hearing in the case for November 9th.
