BERLIN: Two German courts are set to deal with claims for damages against the manufacturers of coronavirus vaccines starting on Monday, reported German news agency (dpa).
The Regional Court in Rottweil in the southwestern 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.
The man accuses the pharmaceutical company of being responsible for his suffering from a massive deterioration in the vision in his right eye as a result of the vaccination.
He is demanding €150,000 (US$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.
“We have carefully examined the health impairments presented by the plaintiff on the basis of all the information provided,” said a spokeswoman.
A decision is not expected on Monday.
An appeal hearing in a case against AstraZeneca is starting at the same time at the Higher Regional Court in Bamberg, Bavaria.
A regional court dismissed a woman’s lawsuit against the British-Swedish pharmaceutical company six months ago. The plaintiff appealed against this, hence the hearing at the higher court.
The woman had sued the company for damages after severe health complaints, which she attributed to a coronavirus vaccination.
The lawsuit was dismissed because the first court could find neither a product defect nor an information error.
It is unclear whether a judgment will be handed down on Monday. The parties may reach a settlement.
The two civil cases are among the first against coronavirus vaccine manufacturers in Germany. – BERNAMA-dpa
