$57 million awarded in Kadena noise suit

[unhappycamper]

$57 million awarded in Kadena noise suit
By Chiyomi Sumida, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Sunday, March 1, 2009

NAHA, Okinawa — A Japanese court here Friday ordered the largest compensation award ever in an aircraft noise suit, ending an eight-year battle by neighbors of Kadena Air Base.

The Fukuoka High Court’s Naha branch awarded 5.62 billion yen (about $57 million) to 5,519 residents who claimed their health suffered from noise stemming from the air base’s activities.

However, the court dismissed the residents’ demand to suspend flight activities from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. The three-judge panel also dismissed a separate suit by 21 residents against the U.S. government.

The cases began in March 2000, when 5,542 residents sued the Japanese government, demanding $59.5 million compensation. Lower court decisions were appealed, with the case ultimately winding up in Fukuoka High Court.

During Friday’s proceedings, Chief Judge Yoshinori Kawabe said U.S. military activities at the air base are based on a bilateral pact between the governments and, therefore, are outside the control of the Japanese government.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=61034