In a lawsuit in which residents who evacuated from Fukushima Prefecture and other areas due to the accident at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant sought compensation, claiming that they had been "deprived of their hometowns," the Sendai High Court held the second instance, following the first instance, against TEPCO. While ordering compensation, the government did not accept responsibility.
More than 80 people who evacuated from Fukushima Prefecture's Futaba Town to Miyagi Prefecture and other areas due to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident have been awarded more than 550 million yen to the national government and TEPCO, claiming that they were "deprived of their hometown and local community." requested compensation.
In 2020, the Sendai District Court of First Instance ordered TEPCO to pay compensation of over 144 million yen, but did not accept the government's responsibility, and the plaintiff and TEPCO filed an appeal.
In a second-instance judgment on the 18th, Sendai High Court Chief Judge Isao Setoguchi said that TEPCO, ``As a company that is responsible for taking all possible measures to prevent nuclear disasters, ``It cannot be said that the defendants faced the situation in good faith, foresaw it, and responded with sincerity,'' and ordered a total of over 158 million yen in compensation.
The amount of compensation has been increased in accordance with the standards set by the government in 2022.
On the other hand, following the first instance, the government did not accept responsibility, stating, ``Even if the government had ordered TEPCO to take the necessary tsunami countermeasures based on the law, it cannot be said that the accident could have been prevented.'' .
In June 2022, the Supreme Court issued a ruling denying the government's liability for compensation in a class action lawsuit filed by people who evacuated from the nuclear power plant accident and others suing the government and TEPCO.After that, similar rulings were made by courts around the country. it is continuing.
Plaintiffs: “Voices are not reaching the court”
After the verdict, the plaintiff group held a press conference, and leader Masaru Ishii, who was living in Tomioka Town, Fukushima Prefecture at the time, said, ``We were unable to get the government to accept responsibility, and our voices did not reach the court.'' I wonder if the government took the lead in promoting nuclear power plants, and if a similar accident occurs next time, will the judiciary be able to take responsibility?'I feel sick to my stomach.''