《TAIPEI TIMES》 Court orders Taipower to pay NT$16.15m over death

/ Staff writer, with CNA

The Supreme Court yesterday ordered Taiwan Power Co （Taipower） to pay about NT$16.15 million （US$514,577） in compensation to the family of a man who was electrocuted by fallen power lines in New Taipei City’s Wulai District （烏來） in 2015.

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The Supreme Court upheld a High Court ruling ordering Taipower to pay NT$5.46 million to support the man’s family.

The High Court settled on the number after considering the man’s estimated remaining lifespan of 36.68 years based on the average lifespan of men in New Taipei City at the time.

The Supreme Court had previously awarded a combined payment of NT$10.69 million for pain and suffering as well as funeral and medical expenses.

The 43-year-old man, surnamed Lo （羅）, was electrocuted by a downed power line while riding his motorcycle on Jan. 22, 2015.

His family had demanded NT$22.64 million in compensation from Taipower for pain and suffering, funeral and medical expenses, and support for his four children.

Although Taipower said it had dispatched inspectors regularly in line with its policy, it did not prevent the incident after thunderstorms and typhoons had severely weakened the cable system, the court said.

The Supreme Court’s decision is final and cannot be appealed.

Additional reporting by Wen Yu-te

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES