Two teenagers who peed into a pot of broth at a hotpot restaurant have been ordered to pay 2.2 million yuan ($309,000; £227,000) to two catering companies in China. The incident, which happened in February at a Shanghai branch of China's biggest hotpot chain Haidilao, sparked widespread criticism after the 17-year-olds posted a video of their drunken act online. There is no suggestion that anyone consumed the contaminated broth but Haidilao had offered to pay thousands of diners who dined at the restaurant in the days following the incident.
In March, Haidilao sought more than 23 million yuan in losses, saying this took into account the amount it compensated customers over the incident. Last Friday, a Shanghai court found that the teenagers had infringed upon the companies' property rights as well as reputation through 'acts of insult', noting that their actions contaminated tableware and 'caused strong discomfort among the public'. The court also found that the teens' parents had failed to fulfil their duty of guardianship and ordered that they bear the compensation, state media reported.
This includes 2 million yuan for operational and reputational damage, 130,000 yuan to one of the caterers for tableware losses and cleaning expenses, and 70,000 yuan in legal costs. However, the court ruled that any additional compensation Haidilao offered to its customers, beyond what they were billed, was a 'voluntary business decision', and therefore should not be borne by the teenagers.
Haidilao sought to quell public backlash by offering to compensate more than 4,000 diners who visited the branch between February 24 and March 8, providing both full refunds and additional cash compensation. They also committed to replacing all hotpot equipment and conducting thorough cleaning and disinfection processes. Known for its customer service and family-friendly atmosphere, which includes services like manicures for women and treats for children, Haidilao has rapidly expanded, now operating over 1,000 locations worldwide.
In March, Haidilao sought more than 23 million yuan in losses, saying this took into account the amount it compensated customers over the incident. Last Friday, a Shanghai court found that the teenagers had infringed upon the companies' property rights as well as reputation through 'acts of insult', noting that their actions contaminated tableware and 'caused strong discomfort among the public'. The court also found that the teens' parents had failed to fulfil their duty of guardianship and ordered that they bear the compensation, state media reported.
This includes 2 million yuan for operational and reputational damage, 130,000 yuan to one of the caterers for tableware losses and cleaning expenses, and 70,000 yuan in legal costs. However, the court ruled that any additional compensation Haidilao offered to its customers, beyond what they were billed, was a 'voluntary business decision', and therefore should not be borne by the teenagers.
Haidilao sought to quell public backlash by offering to compensate more than 4,000 diners who visited the branch between February 24 and March 8, providing both full refunds and additional cash compensation. They also committed to replacing all hotpot equipment and conducting thorough cleaning and disinfection processes. Known for its customer service and family-friendly atmosphere, which includes services like manicures for women and treats for children, Haidilao has rapidly expanded, now operating over 1,000 locations worldwide.
