(2)Gov't loses court battle to ex-miners in Fukuoka

(2)Gov't loses court battle to ex-miners in Fukuoka

TOKYO, Japan - Plaintiffs, who sued the government and Nittetsu Mining Co. seeking compensation for former coal miners who contracted pneumoconiosis, speak at a press conference in Tokyo on April 27 after the Supreme Court upheld their claim for compensation.

(1)Gov't loses court battle to ex-miners in Fukuoka

(1)Gov't loses court battle to ex-miners in Fukuoka

TOKYO, Japan - Plaintiffs, who sued the government and Nittetsu Mining Co. seeking compensation for former coal miners who contracted pneumoconiosis, bow to their supporters in appreciation at the Supreme Court in Tokyo on April 27. The court finalized a lower court ruling ordering the government and Nittetsu Mining to pay a total of 560 million yen in damages to 200 plaintiffs for former coal miners' sufferings, putting an end to the 19-year lawsuit.

Court orders state to compensate coal miners for disease

Court orders state to compensate coal miners for disease

FUKUOKA, Japan - Plaintiffs in a suit demanding that the state and coal mine companies pay compensation for former miners who contracted lung disease caused by dust inhalation enter the Fukuoka High Court in Fukuoka on July 19 holding pictures of their deceased family members. The court ordered the state and the three companies -- Mitsui Mining Co., Nittetsu Mining Co., and Mitsui Coal Mining Co. -- to pay them some 1.91 billion yen in compensation.

(2)Gov't loses court battle to ex-miners in Fukuoka

(2)Gov't loses court battle to ex-miners in Fukuoka

TOKYO, Japan - Plaintiffs, who sued the government and Nittetsu Mining Co. seeking compensation for former coal miners who contracted pneumoconiosis, speak at a press conference in Tokyo on April 27 after the Supreme Court upheld their claim for compensation. (Kyodo)

(1)Gov't loses court battle to ex-miners in Fukuoka

(1)Gov't loses court battle to ex-miners in Fukuoka

TOKYO, Japan - Plaintiffs, who sued the government and Nittetsu Mining Co. seeking compensation for former coal miners who contracted pneumoconiosis, bow to their supporters in appreciation at the Supreme Court in Tokyo on April 27. The court finalized a lower court ruling ordering the government and Nittetsu Mining to pay a total of 560 million yen in damages to 200 plaintiffs for former coal miners' sufferings, putting an end to the 19-year lawsuit. (Kyodo)