Lithuanian court rejects first damage lawsuit over pandemic restrictions
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Non-essential retailers have been ordered to close during the lockdown / E. Blaževič/LRT
A court in Vilnius has rejected a dental clinic s lawsuit against Lithuania over potential damages caused by the government s decision to put the country under quarantine last spring.
It is the first known case over restrictions on businesses during the pandemic.
Vilnius Regional Administrative Court ruled on Thursday that the government of Saulius Skvernelis did not exceed its powers when it declared a state of emergency in the country.
Representatives of the clinic plan to appeal.
In its suit filed with Vilnius Regional Administrative Court, Aukštaitijos Implantologijos Klinika, a dental and beauty services provider, claimed the government had no powers to impose business restrictions, adding that the restrictions were disproportionate. The clinic demanded around 34,000 euros in damages for lost revenue and al