State loses damages suit over lung disease for 4th time

TOKUSHIMA, Japan - Plaintiffs head to the Tokushima District Court in Tokushima Prefecture on March 28. The court ordered the state to pay a total of 57.2 million yen in damages to 26 people who contracted pneumoconiosis during state-ordered tunnel construction projects. The decision marks the state's fourth straight loss in similar lawsuits filed with 11 district courts. (Kyodo)

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