On April 21, 2020, the State of Missouri (represented by its Attorney General, Eric S. Schmitt) filed a lawsuit against The People’s Republic of China (PRC), The Communist Party of China, and other Chinese institutions and state organs it holds responsible for the “appalling campaign of deceit, concealment, misfeasance, and inaction … [that] unleashed this pandemic [COVID-19].” The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri Southeastern Division. The plaintiff alleges that the defendants were aware of human-to-human transmission long before they took steps to stop the spread or alert the World Health Organization, and that the defendants even took action against individuals (such as doctors and researchers) who were calling attention to the potential danger of the virus. The lawsuit lists the negative effects the virus has had on Missouri, including “enormous economic impacts on both the Missouri government and on virtually every citizen of Missouri,” “the toll to human relationships,” and “educational disruption on Missouri students at every level.” The lawsuit requests judgment on four counts (Public Nuisance, Abnormally Dangerous Activities, two instances of Breach of Duty) as well as various awards, injunctive relief, orders against the defendants, and punitive damages. As an article published on JURIST notes, this is not the first lawsuit related to COVID-19 in the U.S.; however, it “is the first instance of a state suing China over its involvement.”