Japan court holds utility execs liable for Fukushima crisis

By MARI YAMAGUCHI
Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) — A Tokyo court has ordered four former executives of the utility operating the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant to pay 13 trillion yen ($94 billion) to the company, holding them liable for the 2011 disaster. In the closely watched ruling, the Tokyo District Court said the former chairman of Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings and three other former executives failed to fulfil their duty to implement the utmost safety measures despite knowing the risks of a serious accident if a major tsunami hit. It ruled they could have prevented the disaster if they had taken necessary steps sooner.