Mr Carbone said that the civil suit argues that the Victorian government is liable for damages for its failed hotel quarantine program, which is believed to have led to the state’s second COVID-19 outbreak and the toughest restrictions in the country’s history.

“We’re saying that anyone who has lost their job or lost income because of the second lockdown is part of our case. It’s a big group,” Mr Carbone said.

“All the people I am representing for income loss are beside themselves. When we decided to launch this class action, it was out of that desperation for the people that don’t know which way they’re turning anymore.”

Mr Carbone found that the second lockdown has wiped out many businesses and devastated numerous employers and employees alike.

“Most employers that I spoke to prior to the second round of lockdowns were very optimistic about getting back to 60 per cent, 70 per cent or 80 per cent of capacity by the end of the year,” he said.

“I’ve spoken to a lot of these people in recent times and they’ve been very, very disheartened.

“I’ve heard from real estate agents, gardeners and hairdressers that have gone through the last two to three months without any income.”

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Mr Carbone finds justification for the case in findings released by Dr Charles Alpren, an epidemiologist with the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, that point to a link between hotel quarantine and 99 per cent of Victoria’s COVID cases.

“If not for the state government’s inept handling of the hotel quarantine, we wouldn’t have had the second round of lockdowns and people wouldn’t have lost their jobs,” he said.

The lead plaintiff in the class action against the government is 21-year-old Jordan Roberts, who was made redundant because of the pandemic less than a fortnight after stage four restrictions were imposed on metropolitan Melbourne.

Mr Carbone said Mr Roberts suffered a “psychological reaction marked by depression and anxiety” and “nervous shock” because of the restrictions with subsequent medical expenses.

“I understand my boss is also struggling and he’s also finding it difficult to make ends meet. I’ve been looking for other work but there’s just nothing out there,” Mr Roberts said.

Mr Roberts said he remained hopeful his former employer would rehire him if the economy rebounds.

Victoria now faces three major lawsuits, after a Mornington Peninsula cafe owner sued the state over its curfew restrictions along with another multibillion-dollar class action suit launched by Quinn Emanuel from businesses affected by the stage four COVID-19 lockdown.