U.S. sailors sue Tepco over radiation

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SAN DIEGO, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Eight U.S. Navy personnel who took part in earthquake relief efforts in Japan are suing Tokyo Electric Power Co. in U.S. federal court over radiation exposure.

The sailors accuse Tepco, owner of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant damaged in the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, of downplaying health threats created by radiation leaks, the BBC reported Friday.

In their lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in San Diego, they are each seeking $10 million in compensatory damages and $30 million in punitive damages, the BBC said. They also seek to have Tepco set up a $100 million fund to pay their medical expenses.

Tepco told the BBC it had received notice it was being sued but couldn't comment because it hadn't received the actual complaint.

Tepco faces billions of dollars in compensation claims related to the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.