Attorney General Catherine Hanaway has taken a significant stride in pursuit of the $24 billion judgment against the People's Republic of China and associated entities for their role in the COVID-19 pandemic impacts on Missouri. As reported by the Missouri Attorney General's Office, with the completion of a mandatory waiting period post-judgment, Missouri is gearing up to initiate the enforcement process, actively seeking to recover damages.
The judgment, which is the largest in the state's history and notably one of the highest against a foreign sovereign, was formally entered in March 2025. Service packets, required under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, were to be sent by the Attorney General's Office to the Clerk of Court in Cape Girardeau for further diplomatic processing. According to Hanaway, "China caused extraordinary harm to our citizens and our economy. We are committed to holding them accountable and recovering every dollar we can, starting with Chinese-owned assets, including farmland," as per the Missouri Attorney General's Office.
The service packets include the original judgment, its Mandarin translations, and other necessary materials outlined by the FSIA. They will be forwarded through the U.S. State Department to various Chinese government entities, including the People’s Republic of China, the National Health Commission, and local governing bodies of Hubei Province as well as Wuhan City. According to the Missouri Attorney General's Office, the move comes after a federal court ruling found that Missouri had "established this claim of damages through evidence satisfactory to the court," proving that China's actions and cover-up efforts considerably amplified the pandemic's effect on Missouri.
Once diplomatic service is acknowledged, Missouri plans to quickly return to federal court to get a certification confirming all conditions for enforcement have been met. This certification will enable, according to Hanaway, to "begin seizing Chinese-owned assets, including real property, financial interests, and other holdings tied to the defendants." She insisted, "This judgment belongs to the people of Missouri," pledging that her office will "not stop until this judgment is enforced," as noted by the Missouri Attorney General's Office.
