Title: Court Dismisses Blindness Claim Against Biontech in Vaccine Case
In a recent turn of events, the Rottweil Regional Court has dismissed a lawsuit charging vaccine manufacturer Biontech with causing serious harm, including near-total blindness in the right eye, following a coronavirus vaccination. The 58-year-old plaintiff, seeking compensation of €150,000 and a future liability declaration from Biontech, was given a month to reconsider and potentially appeal the decision.
This court ruling is part of a series of legal disputes surrounding coronavirus vaccine side effects that have surfaced in German courts. Prior to this, a similar lawsuit had been dismissed against Biontech in Rhineland-Palatinate. The judicial process's adequacy in handling such claims is a subject of criticism, with critics arguing it falls short in providing adequate compensation for individuals suffering physically and emotionally due to COVID-19.
As Europe's healthcare systems, including Germany's, face significant challenges due to the pandemic, Biontech continues to play a prominent role in the country's biotechnological sphere. Their contributions to groundbreaking research and promising medical solutions are noteworthy amid the strain on healthcare systems worldwide.
Background Information
- The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has significantly strained healthcare systems worldwide, including Germany.
- Biontech is one of several vaccine manufacturers facing scrutiny related to the health crisis caused by the virus.
- Legal challenges regarding COVID-19 measures, such as vaccination requirements for health workers, have been common in German courts.
- Public opinion toward vaccination measures has been diverse, with a majority supporting vaccination requirements but a notable segment holding anti-vaccination views.
[Sources: stern.de]
[Enrichment Information:]
- German authorities, including the government and political parties like the AfD and FDP, have faced various legal challenges over coronavirus-related measures. These challenges have reached the Federal Constitutional Court and administrative courts, which have upheld and reversed restrictions based on the pandemic's evolving situation.
- Public debate and protests against government-imposed restrictions, such as the vaccine mandate, were prevalent. An opinion poll found that 60% of Germans supported a vaccine mandate.
Did you know?
- Moderna has initiated proceedings against BioNTech and Pfizer, alleging patent infringement. The court upheld the validity of one patent but ruled the second one invalid for lack of novelty.
- CureVac's process patent was invalidated by the German Federal Patent Court. The English High Court later found the company's remaining patents invalid due to insufficiency.
- Promosome, a US biotech company, has filed a lawsuit against BioNTech and Pfizer at the Unified Patent Court over alleged infringement of a mRNA primary structure patent. The case is still being heard by the Munich local division of the UPC.
- Various legal challenges related to coronavirus measures and vaccine mandates have been handled by German courts, with the Federal Constitutional Court ruling on several anti-pandemic measures in November 2021, such as the federal emergency brake, which was found to be legal.
