Shahram Soltani, a winemaker in Gemla, Sweden, has been denied compensation by the Swedish Chancellor of Justice (Justitiekanslern, JK) despite a ruling that a wrongful decision by the Swedish Food Agency (Livsmedelsverket) caused damage. Over two years ago, the Swedish Food Agency issued an incorrect ban that prohibited Soltani from producing or selling his Persian-style fruit wines. With help from the organization Centrum för rättvisa, the ban was lifted after five months.
JK investigated the case and determined that while errors and negligence occurred that could justify compensation, Soltani and Centrum för rättvisa failed to prove he suffered any economic damage. According to JK, there is insufficient evidence of damage and causation in the submitted materials, such as a lack of documentation for destroyed grapes. Centrum för rättvisa claims JK did not fully understand the evidence and declined a meeting to clarify questions.
Soltani and his legal representatives now plan to sue the state in court, where they will have the opportunity to explain their case orally.