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More than 1,300 coronavirus-related complaints have been filed with the United States courts, according to the daily count by the law firm Hunton Andrews Kurth.
“COVID-19 has divided the United States and has had political implications,” said Lawrence Gostin, professor of public health law at Georgetown University.
“There is a conflict between public health and freedom (…), all kinds of freedoms such as the right to work, freedom, protest and to buy a firearm,” he added.
The first wave of lawsuits came from prisons and immigration detention centers, said Torston Kracht, a partner at the law firm. Prisoners have demanded early parole, arguing that sanitary conditions at the facilities are poor and in some cases are exacerbating the health problems of detainees.
Some prisoners, including Paul Manafort, Donald Trump’s former campaign manager, and his former lawyer Michael Cohen have secured an early release.
Likewise, the EEU Government. USA just asked the Supreme Court to block the early release of 800 inmates at the Elkton Federal Correctional Institution in Ohio. A judge made that provision because 9 died.
In addition, several groups of employees have sued their employers to improve protection measures.
A union representing New York nurses has sued for more masks, gloves, and other protective equipment.
Meanwhile, relatives of victims have filed negligence complaints against employers. This is the case of Walmart stores and the meat processing company JBS.
These complaints have sparked a legislative response. Several states have passed laws to protect healthcare providers from lawsuits, and in Congress they want to give it to companies.
A second broad category of claims asks for compensation for financial losses.
Those who bought tickets for canceled events have filed a class action lawsuit against online booking site Ticketmaster, while others are seeking money for lost hotel or plane reservations, or even gym registration.
Since the beginning of May, the demands of students seeking to recover tuition fees have increased. And business and store owners, forced to remain closed, have sued various government entities to challenge the confinement orders. (I)
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