Court confirms state responsibility for asbestos-linked death at U.S. military base

Japan Press Weekly

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Court confirms state responsibility for asbestos-linked death at U.S. military base

The Yokohama District Court on July 6 ruled that the government is responsible for the asbestos-induced death of a Japanese man who had worked at a U.S. military base, ordering the country to pay his bereaved family about 76 million yen in compensation.

The worker was engaged in asbestos-handling work such as working on air conditioning systems at the U.S. Yokosuka Naval Base, Kanagawa Prefecture, between 1977 and 1995 and died of asbestos-caused malignant mesothelioma of his pleura at the age of 51.

Three bereaved family members, including his wife, filed a lawsuit, arguing that his death was caused by a lack of safety measures of the state and the U.S. Navy and demanded that the government as his employer pay about 94 million yen in compensation for his death.

The court acknowledged the state's responsibility, saying, "Despite recognizing the need for some measures to be taken, the government did not do anything."

A lawyer for the plaintiffs said, "The court decision can be seen as an overall victory."

- Akahata, July 7, 2009