Teens’ Hotpot Prank Costs Parents $300,000 in China
In a shocking incident, two intoxicated teenagers have been ordered to pay $309,000 to two catering companies after they urinated in a pot of soup at a Haidilao restaurant in Shanghai. The court determined the teenagers’ actions, which were documented and shared online, violated the companies’ property rights and damaged their reputation, noting the contamination of tableware and public discomfort. Their parents, deemed to have failed in their duty of guardianship, were ordered to pay the compensation, covering operational and reputational damages, cleaning expenses, and legal costs. Though the restaurant offered additional compensation to its customers, the court ruled that the teenagers were not liable for this voluntary business decision.
John Q. Hosedrinker