Supreme Court Orders Compensation for Injured Navy Sergeant

A navy sergeant who suffered a serious spinal injury in a 2021 accident is entitled to around US$80,000 in compensation, the Supreme Court has ruled.

Transcript

00:00It's now more than four years since an accident on these remote Taiwanese islands, the Wuchou chain,

00:05left a naval sergeant seriously injured.

00:07And after a long legal fight, the Supreme Court has stepped in to award compensation, about 80,000 U.S. dollars.

00:14The island outposts lie closer to China than to Taiwan proper

00:17and are home to key defensive infrastructure, including underground tunnels.

00:20In March 2021, a sergeant tasked with clearing out garbage fell about one story into one of the tunnels

00:26through an unmarked, rusty metal covering, breaking their lumbar spine.

00:30Help was not forthcoming as they made their recovery.

00:51But the Navy said the sergeant had a pre-existing back condition,

00:54prompting two rounds of legal action.

00:57The case eventually reached the Supreme Court.

00:59The Supreme Court has been looking at the hospital's office.

01:03The hospital's office also replied that this is a new issue with the previous illness.

01:08So the Supreme Court has decided that it should be paid for.

01:12And it's not only paid for the insurance, but it's also paid for the insurance.

01:15And it's also paid for the insurance.

01:19The court says it agrees with the amount of compensation the second court to hear the case decided on.

01:24And it says its ruling is final.

01:26And so the case is closed, putting an end to years of legal wrangling

01:38and with the Navy saying it will raise awareness among the ranks

01:41to keep similar accidents from happening.

01:43Alex Chen and John Van Trieste for Taiwan Plus.

01:47If the device deserves...

01:47Let's see...

01:48Let's see...

01:48the problem we have here on the phone is closed.

01:50Alright.

01:51Let's see...

01:52Let's see...

01:53Let's see...

01:53Let's...

01:53Let's see...

01:54Let's see...