森永もりながヒ素ひそミルク中毒ちゅうどく訴訟そしょう 脳性のうせいまひの女性じょせいが賠償ばいしょう請求せいきゅう きょう判決はんけつ

The verdict in the lawsuit where a 70-year-old woman from Osaka, who developed cerebral palsy as an infant due to the Morinaga Arsenic Milk Poisoning Incident that occurred 70 years ago, is seeking compensation from Morinaga Milk Industry, which manufactured the arsenic-contaminated powdered milk, will be delivered on the 22nd at the Osaka District Court.

A 70-year-old woman from Osaka City developed cerebral palsy after drinking arsenic-contaminated powdered milk manufactured by Morinaga Milk Industry when she was an infant. As she aged, her symptoms progressed, making it difficult for her to walk, and in 2004, she was certified as having the most severe level 1 disability.

The woman receives an allowance every month from an association that provides relief to victims, but she claims that it is insufficient as compensation for severe victims and filed a lawsuit against the company three years ago seeking 55 million yen in damages.

In previous trials, the company argued that the allowance paid to the woman is not insufficient if considered as compensation, and claimed that more than 20 years had passed since the occurrence of the damage, exceeding the exclusion period during which compensation can be sought.

The verdict of this trial will be delivered at the Osaka District Court on the afternoon of the 22nd.

The woman said before the verdict, I want them to understand the suffering I have endured due to my severe disability, and I sincerely hope the company will say Im sorry from the bottom of their heart.

70-year-old plaintiff woman: I want people to understand my suffering. The 70-year-old female plaintiff reportedly developed cerebral palsy after drinking arsenic-contaminated powdered milk as an infant, resulting in difficulty moving the left side of her body and frequent falls since childhood.

In my 40s, it became difficult to move the right side of my body, and it became hard to open my right hand once it was clenched.

Furthermore, the symptoms have progressed, and as of the year before last, it has become difficult to walk independently, so a wheelchair is being used.

I never imagined that the symptoms would become this severe before the verdict, the woman said.

I want Morinaga Milk Industry to sincerely say Im sorry.

I want the court to understand the suffering I have endured with my severe disability, she said tearfully.

The Morinaga Arsenic Milk Incident refers to the current state of victim relief. The Morinaga Arsenic Milk Incident occurred 70 years ago in 1955 when arsenic was mixed into powdered milk produced by Morinaga Milk Industry. This resulted in the deaths of 130 infants who drank the powdered milk, and over 13,000 people, mainly in western Japan, suffered, with some experiencing severe aftereffects.

In 1973, a memorandum was created by the country, Morinaga Milk Industry, and the victim groups, stating that Morinaga Milk Industry would bear the responsibility for victim relief and cover the costs of relief. The following year, the Hikari Association was established to carry out projects for victim relief.

In the associations relief project, allowances are calculated by evaluating the victims disability level and their ability to manage household tasks on their own. Currently, victims receive approximately 30,000 to 70,000 yen each month, with the company bearing the full cost.

According to the association, as of the 1st of this month, 13,463 victims have been certified, of which 1,763 have already passed away, and 567 are receiving benefits.