IN recent years accidents involving junior students in public areas and schools have been frequently reported in local media. Some have had to resort to court for a fair settlement. The following are some recent cases in the Huangpu District People' Court:

?The court asked the Shanghai Branch of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China to pay compensation of 163,000 yuan (US$19,700) to a six-year-old boy who lost consciousness after being squeezed by the revolving door of the bank.

Cai Jianzhong went to the bank with his parents to withdraw money on March 8, 2003. When his parents were at the counter, he began playing with the door, by running and pushing against it to make it spin. However, when he fell to the ground suddenly, his head was squashed by the spinning door.

The family said the bank's guard was not around the door to stop the boy, and there were also no warning signs around. The bank said that the parents did not fulfill their duty to look after the boy.

?A two-year-old boy won compensation of 2,000 yuan (US$242) from his kindergarten after his face was bruised by another boy. The parents said that the kindergarten did not call for medical attention, which led to a bacterial infection.

?A 16-year-old girl is seeking compensation of 90,000 yuan (US$10,882) from her school and a boy in her class, claiming that a basketball kicked by the boy during a physical education class hit her head, resulting in cerebellar atrophy.

Li Zouni said that on March 15, 2002, her head was struck by a basketball from the back. She felt dizzy, started to vomit and could not stand the next day.

Doctors diagnosed the girl with encephalic bleeding.

She insisted that the teacher was absent from the playground at the time and that this was a breach of duty. (Star News)