German Court Rejects Textile Dealer's Mask Supply Lawsuit Against Government

A Hamburg-based textile dealer's attempt to claim damages from the German federal government over undelivered COVID-19 protective gear has failed. The dealer sued over a dispute concerning mask and glove deliveries during the pandemic, citing email correspondence with then-Health Minister Jens Spahn as evidence of a purchase agreement. The dealer argued that Spahn's communications, including an offer to "legally bind this [...] so the masks land with us in Germany," constituted a binding contract for FFP2 masks, surgical masks, and other essential items. The dealer sought approximately 469 million euros, including interest, for a claimed 287 million euro contract. However, the Bonn Regional Court dismissed the lawsuit, ruling that no valid purchase contract was ever formed. The court further stated that even if the emails were interpreted as a contract, the claims would have expired due to the statute of limitations. The plaintiff's lawyers had attempted to halt the statute of limitations by sending a payment order, but the court deemed this inadmissible. The ruling is not yet final, and the dealer's legal team is considering an appeal.

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I want to legally bind this stuff ;-) now.