Funeral Company Ordered to Pay ¥83M for Wrongful Dismissal Death, June 20

A 51-year-old employee at a funeral company in Tochigi Prefecture died by suicide in 2019 after being fired for a crime he did not commit. On June 18, his family won a ¥83 million damages award from the company. The employer falsely accused the worker of embezzlement, ignored police findings, and continued denying guilt even after video evidence proved his innocence.

How the Wrongful Accusation Unfolded

A man worked as a gift manager at funeral company Oono starting in 2010. In 2017, another employee stole money from the company by faking gift purchases. The company CEO ordered the manager to sign documents confirming fake transactions, telling him the tax office required signatures. The manager signed without understanding the papers. When police investigated the theft, the CEO told the manager he was a suspect and ordered him to report to the police station without police request.

Court Finds Employee Innocent, Company Liable

The Utsunomiya District Court ruled the manager had no involvement in the theft and signed documents only because the CEO ordered him to do so. Video evidence showed the CEO telling the manager the documents were routine. The court found the CEO’s actions caused depression and suicide, creating legal liability. The judge ordered the company to pay the wife ¥3.02 million and each of three children ¥1.76 million. The company appealed but withdrew its appeal on May 26, one day before the higher court ruling.

Company Paid but Offered No Apology

The company paid ¥82.83 million through insurance on June 12, about two weeks after the judgment became final. The company did not apologize and has not paid court costs. The family’s lawyer said the company submitted video evidence with deleted audio and cut footage, suggesting deliberate concealment. The CEO who dismissed the worker has since stepped down, though the reason remains unclear.

Family’s Anger Over Lack of Accountability

The manager’s wife told reporters she felt “enormous anger” that the company withdrew its appeal before the judgment. The eldest son said the family won the case but felt emptiness because the company never admitted wrongdoing. The family’s lawyer noted that companies that dismiss workers without evidence face serious legal consequences. The wife said she wished the company would go bankrupt rather than simply pay damages.

Final Thoughts

A Japanese court ordered a funeral company to pay ¥83 million for wrongfully dismissing an innocent employee who later died by suicide. The ruling shows that employers face major financial and legal risk when they fire workers based on false accusations without proper investigation.

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