A former employee of the former Kamioka mine in Hida City, Gifu Prefecture, was seeking compensation from Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd., which ran the mine, for pneumoconiosis due to insufficient dust control measures. Following the first trial, the High Court found the responsibility of the company and ordered payment of more than 120 million yen.
In this trial, a total of eight former employees and bereaved families of the former Kamioka Mine in the former Kamioka Town of Gifu Prefecture and now Hida City suffered from pneumoconiosis, which impaired lung function. It was because it was insufficient, and he was seeking compensation of more than 260 million yen from "Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.", which operated the mine, and "Kamioka Mining & Co., Ltd.", a subsidiary.
The Gifu District Court of the first instance ordered the company to pay more than 90 million yen for the three people, and both sides appealed.
In the decision of the second trial on the 16th, Masato Kokubo, the judge of the Nagoya High Court, said, "Although the company was taking measures against dust, education and guidance and supervision were not thorough. Measures to prevent pneumoconiosis are insufficient. However, it violated the safety consideration obligation. "
Then, he recognized the responsibility of the company for 6 people, 3 more than the 1st trial, and ordered compensation of more than 120 million yen.
One of the bereaved family "I can finally report to the person who died while waiting for a solution"
Mihoko Kokita was dismissed by the plaintiff's husband in the first instance, but was approved in the second instance.
At a press conference, "I'm glad the court admitted that my husbands suffered from pneumoconiosis. I can finally report to those who died waiting for a resolution. Thank you for issuing a judgment of justice. I will. "
In addition, Hiroaki Okamoto, the secretary-general of the plaintiff's defense team, said, "This is a natural decision as a basic pneumoconiosis proceeding, but it correctly evaluates that there is a limit to the pneumoconiosis discrimination by CT images. Yes, it has a very important significance. "
Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd. "Examine the contents and decide the response"
In response to the ruling, Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd. commented, "I would like to scrutinize the contents and decide what to do in the future."