Victory for the homeless: Lawsuit for state compensation against their eviction from Miyashita Park, central Tokyo

On March 13, 2015, a decision was made by the Tokyo District Court on the demand for state compensation against the eviction of the homeless from Miyashita Park in the Shibuya district, Tokyo.

Nike acquired naming rights for the formerly public park and has excluded the homeless and poor people from the park ever since. The decision also referred to illegality of the major manufacturer of sports equipment.

 The court suggested the following four points as being illegal.

1. The plan to change the park has not been approved by the Shibuya Ward Assembly.

2. The plan has not been subjected to competitive bidding.

3. The homeless who had to live in the park were evicted in an unacceptably forcible manner.

4. An opportunity to explain against the eviction has not been given with regard to the procedure to administrative subrogation.

 The court approved a compensation of 110,000 Japanese yen (900 US dollars) for the homeless.

 YAMAMOTO Shizu, attorney for the plaintiffs, says, “It is particularly important that the court referred to illegality of not only the forcible eviction but also Nike’s acquisition of Miyashita Park. Now, a big real estate company starts to take initiative to develop the park into ‘New Miyashita Park’, but this decision possibly works as a brake against the move”.

 Shibuya Ward Office says, “We will examine the contents of the decision and take action appropriately”. ( KUISAKO Ryuta )

宮下公園の野宿者強制排除「国賠訴訟」で原告勝利判決

２０１１年４月２０日に東京地方裁判所に提訴した宮下公園国家賠償請求裁判が、２０１５年３月１３日に判決を迎えました。

判決は宮下公園のナイキ化の違法性にまで踏み込む判断を示したもので、まさに画期的な判決となりました。

 判決が違法と指摘した点は以下の４つです。

 ①公園の改造計画が議会の承認を経ていないこと（議決が必要な地方自治法96条の「負担付き贈与」に該当）

②競争入札をしていないこと（地方自治法234条）

③公園生活者を相当でない態様の有形力の行使をして排除したこと

④行政代執行に至る手続きで弁明の機会の付与を行わなかったこと

①と②はナイキ化のプロセスそのものが違法であると指摘したもの、

③と④は不当な排除を指摘したものです。

 国家賠償法上の違法な行為としては③のみをとりあげ、原告となった公園生活者だけの損害賠償１１万円を認めました。

 原告代理人・山本志都弁護士のコメント

「強制排除のみならず、宮下公園ナイキ化計画についても違法性を指摘した点が特に重要だと思います。今、大企業による新宮下公園構想が動き出していますが、その進捗にも影響を与えることになるのでは」

 渋谷区のコメント（広報課が電話で対応）

「判決内容を検討し、適切に対応してまいります」   　（杭迫隆太）