Better Off Dead?

Man told to pay damages for failed suicide bid

A German man who unsuccessfully tried to kill himself by jumping in front of a train must pay compensation for the damage he caused, a court in the southern city of Munich ruled on Tuesday. A spokesman for the court said the 47-year-old man leapt too late to land under the train and instead crashed through the side window of the driver's cabin. He suffered head wounds but no other lasting physical injuries, the court said.
The driver of the metro train suffered shock and was unable to work for several weeks.
"Although the man was not guilty of a crime, there is a rule in the civil code which means that for reasons of equity, he had to pay for part of the damage," the spokesman said.
For repairs to the train and lost wages for the driver, Munich municipal authorities sued for damages of some 4,200 euros ($5,325). The court ordered the man to pay half the sum.