Those harmed by a food poisoning outbreak at the Polam Kopitiam (寶林茶室) restaurant in Taipei’s Xinyi District (信義) are invited to join a class-action lawsuit seeking compensation, the Consumers’ Foundation said on Monday.
The lawsuit is to be launched on behalf of the six people who died and 24 who were injured from bongkrek acid poisoning after eating at the restaurant in late March, foundation chairman Wu Jung-ta (吳榮達) told a news conference in Taipei.
Other poisoning victims are invited to contact the foundation to join the lawsuit, he said, adding that consent forms must be signed, but there would be no fees.
Photo: Tien Yu-hua, Taipei Times
Joann Su (蘇錦霞), lead lawyer on the case and honorary chairperson of the foundation, said the suit would seek compensation from businesses and individuals, including the restaurant, chef, Far Eastern Department Store and the company that manages the food court where Polam Kopitiam is located.
Total damages could exceed NT$100 million (US$3.09 million), she said, adding that they hope to file the suit within three months.
This is the first suit related to food safety led by the foundation that involves fatalities, she added.
Victims or their family members must provide a receipt from the restaurant, proof of medical fees, total work losses, transportation fees and any other related costs, Su said, adding that they would also seek relatively high compensation for psychological damages.
Apart from civil damages, the foundation would also be seeking punitive damages based on the results of related criminal and administrative suits, Su said.
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