Last May, China put in effect a new system in its courts in an attempt to encourage transparency and keep watch over its government officials for meddling in legal cases. But since its implementation, the courts saw an increase in the filing of ridiculous lawsuits nationwide, according to the Associated Press.
Under the new system, the courts are required to take on legitimate cases as soon as they are filed, or else clearly indicate why it has to be rejected. Those who filed, meanwhile, have the right to appeal the decisions. This new regulation makes it harder for lawsuits to be easily dismissed. Thus, the court's surge in cases is about 29 percent higher compared to this time last year, the Supreme People's Court said in the report.
As soon as the latest directive was set in place, a court in the Shanghai Pudong New District received a lawsuit filed against Chinese actress Zhao Wei by a man who claimed her intense stare on his TV screen led to his "spiritual damage," according to the Guardian.
The lawsuit further said that the man incurred the "damage" while watching "Tiger Mom," the actress' prime-time drama about a couple struggling to raise their daughter because of differences in parenting styles.
While the court refused to say whether or not the lawsuit was rejected, Gan Wen, an official in China's Supreme Court, criticized the claim. "It's not necessary to waste our judicial resources on cases like these," he said.
Incidentally, married Zhao Wei, 39, was recently named one of the world's wealthiest actresses, according to Forbes. The former kindergarten teacher is dubbed "China's show business buffet" by the local media. She earned her fame starring in countless TV shows and movies, and released a few albums with top 10 hits in China. She also endorses various top brands like Mercedes-Benz, Dior, Versace and DeBeers.
Watch "Tiger Mom" with Zhao Wei below:
