The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled the parents of a boy are not liable for a motorcycle accident that occurred after their son kicked a soccer ball out of the school grounds, overturning a lower court ruling that held the parents liable for the accident.
The ruling could be a bellwether for lawsuits regarding accidents or trouble caused by people without sufficient legal competency, including children, the mentally handicapped and elderly people with dementia.
The lower court, in Osaka, ordered them to pay ¥11.8 million in damages to the relatives of an elderly man who was injured in the accident.