A draft outline of a bill to offer blanket relief to hepatitis C sufferers infected via tainted blood products was agreed to Friday by a ruling coalition task force and patients, paving the way to an overall settlement of damages suits filed since 2002.</PARAGRAPH>
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<TD><FONT SIZE='1'><B>Toshihiro Suzuki –
, the chief lawyer representing plaintiffs in a case against the government over hepatitis C infection through tainted blood products, smiles during a news conference with ruling coalition lawmakers at a Diet members' office compound Friday in Tokyo.
KYODO PHOTO
Toshihiro Suzuki, the chief lawyer representing the plaintiffs, welcomed the move, stressing that the outline "clearly states the government's responsibility."
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