美國無線電公司(簡稱 RCA 公司)自 1970 年起在台灣設廠,生產電子 及家電產品。但在營運期間,該公司違法使用多種對人體有危害的化學物質, 導致員工於參與生產過程中接觸、吸入或食入這些物質,進而導致死亡、罹患 癌症或其他重大疾病、流產或其他身體健康的傷害。受害的勞工組織自救會抗 爭,並在 2004 年提起職災集體訴訟,向 RCA 公司請求損害賠償。本文分享 承辦 RCA 集體訴訟案件的經驗,說明法律實務工作者(特別是律師)在此類 案件中可能會碰到的困難,希望能提供承辦此類案件的實務工作者參考。
關鍵字
美國無線電公司、職業災害、集體訴訟、揭穿公司面紗原則
The Radio Cooperation of America (RCA) set up several factories in Taiwan producing electronic products and electrical home appliances in the 1970s. Some years later, people found that the company illegally used various harmful chemicals. Employees died or were diagnosed with cancer or other serious diseases, had miscarriages or suffered because they had touched, breathed in or eaten contaminated material. The victims organized a protest and then filed a class action lawsuit against the RCA and asked for compensation in 2004. This note presents my experience of participation in the lawsuit and illustrates the difficulties participants, especially lawyers, met. The author hopes that this note may be useful to lawyers and others who engage in such cases.
Keywords
Radio Cooperation of America, occupational injury, class action, piercing the cooperation veil