According to an official notice released by the Wuhan Intermediate People’s Court on November 2, the litigation was initially filed on May 7, 2025. The original list of defendants included the state of Missouri and former attorneys general Eric Schmitt and Andrew Bailey. Upon the application of the plaintiffs, the court added current Attorney General Catherine Hanaway as a co-defendant in December of the same year, bringing all four defendants into this foreign-related civil case.
The plaintiffs allege in their complaint that several Missouri prosecutors initiated and promoted a series of lawsuits in the United States, spread false information and made stigmatizing and discriminatory remarks, causing reputational harm and economic losses to the plaintiffs. They are requesting the court to order the defendants to cease the relevant conduct, issue a public apology, eliminate adverse impacts, restore their reputation and pay compensation.
The case had its public hearing at the Wuhan Intermediate People’s Court on October 30. In its brief statement, the court said the hearing has concluded and the case is still under way with no verdict handed down for the time being. Authorities in Missouri have not yet issued a public response to date.