Ischgl was known for party and slope fun – an ideal mix for the spread of the coronavirus. Now, for the first time, a judge is deciding whether the state has to stand up for the infections.
Vienna – it’s not about money for them. At least not mainly. During the first trial of the Corona outbreak in the Tyrolean ski resort of Ischgl, relatives of fatalities made it clear in the Vienna Regional Court on Friday that transparency and responsibility are paramount for them.
The widow and son of an Austrian who died of Corona, who is said to have been infected when he left Ischgl in chaos, are demanding around 100,000 euros in damages from the state. The judgment will be given in writing.
“I am concerned with justice,” emphasized the son on the sidelines of the trial. “If there is compensation, we will of course donate the money,” he said, referring to charitable organizations. His 72-year-old father died in April 2020 with a serious Covid-19 illness shortly after he returned from a skiing holiday with friends from the après-ski paradise.
The Austrian’s family is not the only one suing for damages. At least 15 other relatives are also of the opinion that the Austrian authorities reacted too late to the first infections in Ischgl in March 2020 and that the uncontrolled mass departure of the guests led to further infections and the spread of the virus in Europe.
In the coming weeks, the German Dörte Sittig from near Cologne is also expecting her court hearing in Vienna. The partner of a deceased winter sportsman observed the first trial on Friday. She mainly wanted an admission of guilt by the state, she told the German press agency. “I just expect people to say: We didn’t react in time.”
But the legal representatives of Austria were far from that on Friday. They rejected an amicable solution, as proposed by plaintiff lawyer Alexander Klauser. The Republic is of the opinion that the government and authorities acted correctly with their knowledge of the virus at the time and that the lawsuit is therefore unfounded.
According to Klauser, around 11,000 corona cases in different countries can be traced back to Ischgl returnees. Due to economic considerations, authorities have not established sufficient health measures. In addition, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) announced a quarantine for Ischgl on March 13th without any preparation time. Thousands of vacationers fled chaotically and crowded together. “Anyone who had not been infected with the corona virus the week before was now infected in overcrowded cars and ski buses,” Klauser told journalists.
Klauser asked for scientific reports and official reports. He also suggested a three-month break in the civil litigation. During this time it would become clear whether the Innsbruck public prosecutor’s office would bring criminal charges against representatives of the authorities because of the Ischgl case. But the judge rejected him. Since all relevant information about the actions of the authorities was known, she closed the proceedings and announced a written judgment. That could take several weeks, said a court spokeswoman. dpa
