On September 12, the Shanghai Huangpu District People’s Court issued its ruling in the shocking case of two 17-year-old boys who urinated into a Haidilao hotpot earlier this year.

The court ordered the teens and their parents to publish a public apology and jointly pay 2.2 million yuan (approx. $309,000) in damages to the restaurant chain, according to People’s Daily.

Breakdown of compensation:

  • 130,000 yuan for disposal, replacement, and sterilization of all utensils
  • 2 million yuan for reputational and business losses
  • 70,000 yuan in legal fees

If the minors have personal assets, compensation will be deducted first, with parents covering the remainder.

The case dates back to February 24, when the teens dined in a private room at a Haidilao branch. During the meal, they climbed onto the table, urinated into the hotpot, and filmed the act. Three days later, one of them uploaded the clip online, where it quickly went viral and drew widespread condemnation.

On March 12, Haidilao issued an apology, stating that all utensils had been destroyed, the restaurant fully sterilized, and refunds given to 4,109 customers who had eaten there during that period. The company also voluntarily offered compensation equal to 10 times the value of customers’ bills.

Two days later, Haidilao filed a lawsuit demanding an apology and 23 million yuan (over $3.2 million) in damages.

The court ruled that the teens’ actions were deliberate and severely damaging to the company’s reputation, making Haidilao’s expenses for disposal and sterilization legitimate. However, the decision to refund and overcompensate customers was deemed a voluntary business choice, not subject to mandatory compensation.

Although under 18, the teens were considered capable of understanding the illegality of their behavior. Thus, both they and their parents must take civil liability.

Professor Zhu Xiaozhe, Vice President of the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics Law School, said:

“This verdict reminds parents of their duty to supervise their children. Minors must respect ethics and public order. If they infringe on others’ rights, they will bear civil liability. At the same time, this ruling confirms that enterprises’ rights must be protected by law, as business operations form the foundation of the economy.”

As public opinion continues to scrutinize the case, it stands as both a warning for young people and a precedent for businesses seeking protection of their reputation under Chinese law.

Sources: People’s Daily