Ricomex must pay in full for quake deaths
The Supreme Court yesterday rejected a bid by the owners of an Athens factory that collapsed during the 1999 earthquake, killing 39 people, to have compensation awards to survivors and victims’ families revoked. The Ricomex company had sought the revocation of four appeals court decisions awarding a total of 1.4 million euros in compensation. Ricomex has filed for bankruptcy, and the case is due to be heard on May 19. Yesterday, the company’s lawyers said Ricomex had been unable to reach an out-of-court settlement with the 140 claimants, but had paid compensation to certain families. This was denied by claimants’ lawyers, who argued that the company has expanded abroad and has sold a large number of shares to a multinational firm. Three architects and a civil engineer involved in the building’s construction are being tried for murder.
