NIIGATA (TR) – Niigata City has filed a lawsuit with a court here seeking damages from the owner of a passenger car that has been illegally parked for at least 15 years, reports the Mainichi Shimbun (Apr. 2).
The suit, which was submitted to the Niigata Summary Court, seeks approximately 540,000 yen in damages from the owner of the minivan and recovery of the land it occupies.
According to the city, the vehicle has been abandoned in the parking lot of Sports Park Nishikawa in Nishikan Ward since at least May 2011.
Sports Park Nishikawa is a sports facility equipped with tennis courts and a multi-purpose ground. The parking lot has approximately 120 spaces and is free of charge.
The abandoned vehicle appears to have been moved recently as three wheels are missing. It is also tilted to one side. Nearby residents and facility managers had pointed out the danger, saying it looks like it might tip over.
While the car’s owner was confirmed to have resided in Niigata City based on the vehicle’s registration information, their current address is unknown.
The city accepted the lawsuit in late January through a procedure called “service by publication,” where the relevant documents were posted on the court’s bulletin board, deeming the complaint to have reached the parties involved.
The compensation amount was calculated based on a 15-years period and a rate of 3,000 yen per month, which was derived from the cost of nearby parking.
