Sick building syndrome victim wins lawsuit in Japan

October 3, 2009

Sat, Oct 03, 2009

The Yomiuri Shimbun/Asia News Network

AsiaOne - Singapore

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The Tokyo District Court has ordered condominium developer Dia Kensetsu Co. to

pay 36.6 million yen (S$575,000) in compensation to a woman who has suffered

sick building syndrome since her purchase of a condo unit sold by the company in

2000.

Teiko Okaya, 48, of Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, has suffered ill health

since moving into a new condo in Yokohama she bought from Dia Kensetsu. She

filed a lawsuit against the Yokohama-based firm, demanding 87.9 million yen in

compensation.

Presiding Judge Ryosuke Sakai ruled the firm was negligent and liable to pay

36.6 million yen in compensation, because it did not measure the concentration

of chemical substances inside the unit after its construction.

According to Thursday's ruling, Okaya moved into the condominium in July 2000.

However, several days later, she began suffering symptoms of sick building

syndrome, including headaches, and was diagnosed with chemical sensitivity in

June 2002. Even though Okaya moved out of the unit in December 2002, she

continues suffering the symptoms.

Dia Kensetsu is undergoing civil rehabilitation and is only able to repay

creditors 6 percent of what it owes.

After the ruling, Okaya, appearing at a press conference in Tokyo wearing a mask

and cap to limit her symptoms, said: " [The ruling] doesn't mean that my life

will change. However, I'm happy [the court] has acknowledged me as a victim in

this lawsuit. "

A spokesman from Dia Kensetsu said, " We're unable to comment as we haven't seen

the verdict. "

THE YOMIURI SHIMBUN / ASIA NEWS NETWORK

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