Group files tsunami law suit

Dozens of Europeans affected by the December 26 Indian Ocean tsunamis have jointly filed a lawsuit in New York against the Thai Government, United States forecasters and a French hotel chain, Sofitel, questioning their responsibility.

In what is believed to be the world's first such case related to the deadly quake and tsunami, the plaintiffs do not, at present, seek compensation. But they demand the accused parties prove they had reacted appropriately to the disaster, Edward Fagan, one of the lawyers representing them, said. The plaintiffs are about 60 people from Germany, Austria, France and the Netherlands. They are survivors and bereaved family of victims.