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Town sign of Ischgl: Numerous people were infected with the corona virus in the ski resort
Photo: Jakob Gruber / dpa
From the Tyrolean ski village of Ischgl, the 2020 corona pandemic spread across almost all of Europe.
On September 17th, a series of lawsuits will start to deal with the infections that have led to death or consequential damage.
To begin with, the son and widow of an Austrian who died after a corona infection are demanding 100,000 euros in damages from the republic.
This was announced by the consumer protection association (VSV), which represents the plaintiffs.
At the two-hour hearing before the Regional Court for Civil Law Matters in Vienna it should also be clarified whether a settlement could be reached, said SAAM board member Peter Kolba: "We are ready." As Kolba told SPIEGEL, eleven more should be German plaintiffs' proceedings begin in the days that follow, and they too are demanding compensation.
Did the authorities warn too late?
The plaintiffs accuse the authorities of warning of the virus too late and of having closed ski operations too hesitantly.
Ischgl is known for its party scene and is considered one of the hotspots for the spread of the virus in the first wave in March 2020. The state of Austria has so far denied culpable action.
In the first case, the plaintiffs assume that the 72-year-old journalist was infected during the chaotic departure from the valley in the bus on the way to the train station.
Thousands of holidaymakers were surprised on March 13, 2020 by the announcement by Chancellor Sebastian Kurz that the Paznaun Valley would be isolated with immediate effect.
As a result, many - including German vacationers - immediately packed their suitcases and tried to leave the place.
From the plaintiffs' point of view, these circumstances contributed to the fact that the virus was able to spread in parts of Europe.
Around 100 more lawsuits against the Republic of Austria are in preparation, according to the SAAM.
In the meantime, an independent commission of experts had determined that there had been errors and misjudgments in crisis management.
VSV board member Kolba said in the summer of 2020 that around 6,000 holidaymakers in Tyrol had reported to him as victims.
ptz / dpa
