We would like to inform you that the third oral argument date for the Eniwa City "abuse of persons with disabilities" cover-up lawsuit has been held.

Date and time: March 12, 2024 from 16:90

Venue: Sapporo District Court No. 805

Judges: Presiding Judge Yuji Fuse, Judge Shiori Nagamine, Judge Mio Komatsu (Civil Affairs Division 1)

Attendance: 7 plaintiff representatives, 1 defendant Eniwa City representative, 1 defendant ranch manager himself

【Future plans】

The next (4th) oral argument date is June 21, 2024 (Friday) from 3:00 pm at Sapporo District Court No. 805.

Attendance tickets will be distributed.

[Contents of the third oral argument date]

1. Submission of each document

Defendant Eniwa City submitted Defendant Eniwa City Preparation Document (2) and Exhibits Otsu C3 to Otsu C21 as evidence.

Defendant ranch operator Z submitted a written response to the court's questions.

2. Summary of communications on this date

(1) The statement in Preparation Document (2) of Defendant Eniwa City was made.

(2) Defendant Eniwa City submitted Exhibits Otsu C3 to Otsu C21 as evidence, and the evidence was examined (Otsu C14 was originally supposed to be submitted separately for Otsu C20 and Otsu C21, so the evidence (excluded from investigation).

(3) It was confirmed that the plaintiff notified the social welfare corporation that operates the counseling support office during the deadline.

(4) Defendant ranch manager Z submitted a written response to the court's questions.

(5) The court will ask additional questions in response to defendant ranch owner Z's answers, and the plaintiffs will also ask questions, and questions from the plaintiffs must be submitted in writing by April 12th. became.

(6) Plaintiffs will submit documents regarding Eniwa City's liability by June 12th.

We would like to inform you that the second oral argument date for the Eniwa City "abuse of persons with disabilities" cover-up lawsuit has been held.

Date and time: January 30, 2024 from 1:30 p.m.

Venue: Sapporo District Court No. 805

Judges: Chief Judge Yuji Fuse, Judge Shiori Nagamine, Judge Mio Komatsu (Civil Affairs Division 1)

Attendance: 7 plaintiff representatives, 1 defendant Eniwa City representative, 1 defendant ranch manager himself

【Future plans】

The next (3rd) oral argument date will be Tuesday, March 12, 2024, from 4:30 pm in Sapporo District Court No. 805.

Attendance tickets will be distributed.

[Contents of the second oral argument date]

1. Submission of each document

The plaintiff submitted the Plaintiffs' Preparatory Document (1), and the defendant Eniwa City also submitted the Defendant Eniwa City Preparatory Document (1).

Defendant Eniwa City was scheduled to submit Exhibits B C3 to C19 as evidence, but due to procedural deficiencies as described below, the examination of the evidence was postponed to the next time.

In addition, the defendant Eniwa City submitted a notice of lawsuit, claiming that the social welfare corporation that operates the counseling support office will be involved in the lawsuit as an ally of the defendant Eniwa City.

2. Summary of communications on this date

(1) Statements were made in the Plaintiffs' Preparatory Document (1) and the Eniwa City Preparatory Document (1).

(2) The records of the evidence preservation procedures (on-site verification) that the plaintiffs conducted on November 24, 2023 in order to avoid the risk of demolition of the prefabricated hut that became the site were disclosed in court. I did.

(3) Defendant Eniwa City had planned to submit materials from the investigation committee established by Eniwa City as evidence in response to the plaintiffs' request, but the defendant The materials that were believed to have been created by Eniwa City were mixed in, so when the defense team pointed out this fact, the defendant Eniwa City had to check and resubmit the documents, and the examination of evidence was postponed to the next time.

(4) Defendant Eniwa City has denied that ranchers are "users" under the Act on Prevention of Abuse of Persons with Disabilities, citing that ranchers are "foster parents," so to speak, and that plaintiffs are "housework users." However, it has been acknowledged that the terms ``foster parents'' and ``domestic servants'' referred to here are not ``foster parents'' and ``domestic servants'' as defined in the legal terms under the Child Welfare Act and the Labor Standards Act. I did.

(5) The plaintiffs stated that if the defendant Eniwa City were to notify the social welfare corporation that operates the counseling support office, the plaintiffs would also notify the social welfare corporation of the lawsuit.

(6) Since the ranch manager has not yet been able to find a lawyer to represent him, the court has given the ranch manager questions in writing and the ranch owner is to respond by the next time. I did.

We would like to inform you that the deadline for discussions on the progress of the Eniwa City ``abuse of persons with disabilities'' cover-up lawsuit has been held.

Date and time: December 20, 2023 from 11:00

Venue: Sapporo District Court No. 201 Civil Tribunal

Judges: Presiding Judge Yuji Fuse, Judge Mio Komatsu (Civil Division 1 Panel Section)

Attendees: 6 plaintiff representatives, 1 defendant ranch official, 1 defendant Eniwa City representative

(Two other Eniwa City employees were also present)

1. The court has confirmed to the defendant Eniwa City its policy regarding the request for submission of materials related to the investigation committee based on our petition for clarification dated November 22, 2023, and the defendant Eniwa City has basically submitted all documents. I received a response that they would.

It is scheduled to be submitted by January 23rd, one week before the second oral argument date.

Regarding the petition for clarification (2) dated December 15, 2023, the defendant Eniwa City has not yet considered it.

2. The court requested that the defendant, Eniwa City, clarify the concepts of "foster parents" and "domestic servants" in the written answer.

3. The court told the defendant Eniwa City that under the Act on Prevention of Abuse of Persons with Disabilities, if the person is not an "employer" but is a "caregiver," it seems that a problem would arise under the same law, so Eniwa City said: There was a request for clarification as to whether the person is considered to be a "caregiver" or not to be a "caregiver."

4 Defendant Eniwa City notified the Counseling Support Office of the lawsuit and expressed its intention to encourage participation in the lawsuit.

5. The court has announced that the plaintiffs will consider the submission of a written request regarding hearing for persons with disabilities dated December 15, 2023.

We would like to inform you that the first oral argument date for the Eniwa City "abuse of persons with disabilities" cover-up lawsuit has been held.

Date and time: November 28, 2023 from 11:00

Venue: Sapporo District Court No. 805

Judges: Chief Judge Yuji Fuse, Judge Shiori Nagamine, Judge Mio Komatsu (Civil Affairs Division 1)

Attendance: 7 plaintiff's attorneys, 1 defendant's attorney

【Future plans】

The progress consultation date (closed to the public) will be held on December 20, 2023.

After that, the next (second) oral argument date will be on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, from 1:30 p.m. at Sapporo District Court No. 805.

[Contents of the first oral argument date]

1. Submission of each document

The plaintiff submitted a complaint and evidence (A1 to A17), and the defendant submitted a written answer and evidence (A1 C1 to A2 C2).

In response to the written answer and evidence submitted by the defendant, the plaintiff submitted a motion for clarification and additional evidence (Exhibits A18 and A19).

2. Summary of communications on this date

A statement of the complaint and a statement of answer were made.

An examination of the evidence was conducted for A1 to A19 and Otsu C1 to Otsu C2.

3. opinion statement

On this day, Attorney General Funayama gave his opinion.