Tokyo tunnel workers, state settle lung disease lawsuit

Tokyo tunnel workers, state settle lung disease lawsuit

TOKYO, Japan - Relatives of former tunnel construction workers, stricken by lung disease after working on state-ordered projects, rejoice June 20 after formally reaching a settlement with the state at the Tokyo High Court. They are the first among around 970 people who have filed lawsuits throughout Japan to seek compensation and have settled by giving up their claim to compensation in exchange for the state pledging to step up measures for workers against pneumoconiosis.

Tunnel workers, state agree to settle lung disease lawsuits

Tunnel workers, state agree to settle lung disease lawsuits

TOKYO, Japan - Tomoe Funayama, the lead counsel for the plaintiffs in civil lawsuits filed by former tunnel construction workers against the state seeking damages for pneumoconiosis, waves a settlement accord he signed with the chief counsel for the government in the lawsuits on June 18. The signing ceremony took place at the No. 1 Diet Members Building in Tokyo.

State loses damages suit over lung disease for 4th time

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.

State loses damages suit over lung disease for 4th time

State loses damages suit over lung disease for 4th time

TOKUSHIMA, Japan - Supporters rejoice in front of the Tokushima District Court on March 28 after 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.

Shipbuilder ordered to compensate ex-workers with lung disease

Shipbuilder ordered to compensate ex-workers with lung disease

YOKOSUKA, Japan - Lawyers speak to supporters after the Yokohama District Court ordered Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ltd. on Oct. 30 to pay a total of 210 million yen in damages to former employees who say they contracted pneumoconiosis by working at its shipyards. It is the first ruling on a case involving lung disease linked to employment at a shipyard, according to the plaintiffs' lawyers.

State ordered to pay damages to tunnel workers with lung disease

State ordered to pay damages to tunnel workers with lung disease

SENDAI, Japan - Plaintiffs celebrate in front of the Sendai District Court in Sendai on Oct. 12 after the court ordered the state to pay 270.6 million yen in compensatory damages to former tunnel construction workers and families of deceased workers for pneumoconiosis contracted on state-backed projects.

State ordered to pay damages to tunnel workers

State ordered to pay damages to tunnel workers

SENDAI, Japan - Plaintiffs arrive at the Sendai District Court to attend a court hearing on their damages suit on Oct. 12. The court later ordered the state to pay 270.6 million yen in compensatory damages to former tunnel construction workers and families of deceased workers for pneumoconiosis contracted on state-backed projects.

Mining firms agree to pay 3.01 bil. yen to black-lung victims

Mining firms agree to pay 3.01 bil. yen to black-lung victims

NAGASAKI, Japan - Mitsui Matsushima Co. and affiliate Matsushima Coal Mining Co. and 264 victims of pneumoconiosis and their relatives sign an agreement in a ceremony at a Nagasaki hotel on March 20 to settle their legal battle. The plaintiffs had demanded damages for their sufferings that resulted from labor at the colliery run by the two companies.

(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.

Gov't to pay compensation in pneumoconiosis case

Gov't to pay compensation in pneumoconiosis case

YOKOSUKA, Japan - Former employees of a U.S. Marine base in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, suffering pneumoconiosis from asbestos dust and bereaved relatives of other employees walk to the Yokohama District Court's Yokosuka branch Oct. 7. The branch ordered the government to pay them 231 million yen in compensation.

Ex-workers, Mitsui Construction settle black lung lawsuit

Ex-workers, Mitsui Construction settle black lung lawsuit

FUKUOKA, Japan - A group of former mine workers and their relatives celebrate outside the Fukuoka District Court in Fukuoka Prefecture on May 2, after reaching an agreement with Mitsui Construction Co. in a compensation suit for pneumoconiosis, or black lung disease. The suit over the work-related disease involves the now-closed Miike Mine, formerly Japan's largest coal mine, operated by Mitsui Construction and two other Mitsui-related companies.

Gov't to pay compensation in pneumoconiosis case

Gov't to pay compensation in pneumoconiosis case

YOKOSUKA, Japan - Former employees of a U.S. Marine base in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, suffering pneumoconiosis from asbestos dust and bereaved relatives of other employees walk to the Yokohama District Court's Yokosuka branch Oct. 7. The branch ordered the government to pay them 231 million yen in compensation. (Kyodo)

Tokyo tunnel workers, state settle lung disease lawsuit

Tokyo tunnel workers, state settle lung disease lawsuit

TOKYO, Japan - Relatives of former tunnel construction workers, stricken by lung disease after working on state-ordered projects, rejoice June 20 after formally reaching a settlement with the state at the Tokyo High Court. They are the first among around 970 people who have filed lawsuits throughout Japan to seek compensation and have settled by giving up their claim to compensation in exchange for the state pledging to step up measures for workers against pneumoconiosis. (Kyodo)

Tunnel workers, state agree to settle lung disease lawsuits

Tunnel workers, state agree to settle lung disease lawsuits

TOKYO, Japan - Tomoe Funayama, the lead counsel for the plaintiffs in civil lawsuits filed by former tunnel construction workers against the state seeking damages for pneumoconiosis, waves a settlement accord he signed with the chief counsel for the government in the lawsuits on June 18. The signing ceremony took place at the No. 1 Diet Members Building in Tokyo. (Kyodo)

State loses damages suit over lung disease for 4th time

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)

State loses damages suit over lung disease for 4th time

State loses damages suit over lung disease for 4th time

TOKUSHIMA, Japan - Supporters rejoice in front of the Tokushima District Court on March 28 after 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)

Mining firms agree to pay 3.01 bil. yen to black-lung victims

Mining firms agree to pay 3.01 bil. yen to black-lung victims

NAGASAKI, Japan - Mitsui Matsushima Co. and affiliate Matsushima Coal Mining Co. and 264 victims of pneumoconiosis and their relatives sign an agreement in a ceremony at a Nagasaki hotel on March 20 to settle their legal battle. The plaintiffs had demanded damages for their sufferings that resulted from labor at the colliery run by the two companies. (Kyodo)

Shipbuilder ordered to compensate ex-workers with lung disease

Shipbuilder ordered to compensate ex-workers with lung disease

YOKOSUKA, Japan - Lawyers speak to supporters after the Yokohama District Court ordered Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ltd. on Oct. 30 to pay a total of 210 million yen in damages to former employees who say they contracted pneumoconiosis by working at its shipyards. It is the first ruling on a case involving lung disease linked to employment at a shipyard, according to the plaintiffs' lawyers. (Kyodo)

State ordered to pay damages to tunnel workers

State ordered to pay damages to tunnel workers

SENDAI, Japan - Plaintiffs arrive at the Sendai District Court to attend a court hearing on their damages suit on Oct. 12. The court later ordered the state to pay 270.6 million yen in compensatory damages to former tunnel construction workers and families of deceased workers for pneumoconiosis contracted on state-backed projects. (Kyodo)

State ordered to pay damages to tunnel workers with lung disease

State ordered to pay damages to tunnel workers with lung disease

SENDAI, Japan - Plaintiffs celebrate in front of the Sendai District Court in Sendai on Oct. 12 after the court ordered the state to pay 270.6 million yen in compensatory damages to former tunnel construction workers and families of deceased workers for pneumoconiosis contracted on state-backed projects. (Kyodo)

(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)

Ex-workers, Mitsui Construction settle black lung lawsuit

Ex-workers, Mitsui Construction settle black lung lawsuit

FUKUOKA, Japan - A group of former mine workers and their relatives celebrate outside the Fukuoka District Court in Fukuoka Prefecture on May 2, after reaching an agreement with Mitsui Construction Co. in a compensation suit for pneumoconiosis, or black lung disease. The suit over the work-related disease involves the now-closed Miike Mine, formerly Japan's largest coal mine, operated by Mitsui Construction and two other Mitsui-related companies.