Court urges settlement on Minamata disease case

A Japanese district court has proposed an out-of-court settlement for a lawsuit involving the largest group of unrecognized sufferers of Minamata disease.

Minamata disease, a neurological illness first reported in 1956, was caused by mercury-tainted water in Minamata city, southwestern Japan. The water was discharged by chemical maker Chisso Corporation.

A group of more than 2,000 patients who are not yet officially recognized as sufferers of the disease has filed a damages suit against the state, Kumamoto Prefecture and Chisso. They are demanding a lump-sum payment of about 95,000 dollars for each patient.

The proposal made by the Kumamoto District Court on Friday came after the state agreed to such a settlement for the first time. Last year, the Diet enacted measures to broaden the scope of aid for unrecognized sufferers.

Plaintiffs and the relevant parties will begin procedures for an out-of-court settlement later on Friday.