High court denies government responsibility for Fukushima nuclear crisis

Japan Times -- Jan 21

The Tokyo High Court on Thursday ordered the operator of the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant to pay damages to evacuated residents, but it overturned a lower court ruling that had also acknowledged the central government's responsibility over the 2011 nuclear crisis.

Among around 30 such lawsuits across the country, the decision of the Tokyo High Court was the first high court ruling absolving the state of responsibility, contradicting an earlier decision of the Sendai High Court in September that ordered both the state and Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. to pay damages.

Presiding Judge Akira Adachi said it cannot be said the state could have predicted a huge tsunami like the one that struck the Fukushima plant. He said it is difficult to ascertain that the state’s measures against tsunami was problematic.

In March 2017, the Maebashi District Court awarded a total of ¥38.55 million to 62 plaintiffs who evacuated from Fukushima Prefecture, including those who voluntarily left, acknowledging the government and the utility were negligent in preparing for a tsunami.

Jan 21 (時事通信映像センター) - 東京電力福島第1原発事故で、群馬県などに避難した住民91人が国と東電に計約4億5000万円の賠償を求めた訴訟の控訴審判決が21日、東京高裁であった。足立哲裁判長は「国は巨大津波の発生を予見できなかった」と述べ、一審前橋地裁判決のうち国に賠償を命じた部分を取り消した。東電の賠償額は一審よりも増額し、自主避難区域の住民も含めて90人に計約1億2000万円の支払いを命じた。