The debate over whether it’s acceptable to recline a seat while traveling has taken a new turn in China’s Hunan province after a man was fined for leaning back on a train.
It is reported that the victim was a student named Wang. The guy was using his newly bought computer on a folding table on the back of the seat when a man named Liu, who was sitting in front, leaned back – right on Wang’s laptop, smashing the screen.
After the laptop was repaired, Wang sued the fellow traveler for 4,788.50 yuan to cover repair costs and a trip to the police station.
The Xiangyin County People’s Court in Hunan province ruled that both parties were partially responsible for what happened, with Liu being 70 percent to blame because he reclined his seat in the first place and Wang 30 percent to blame because he should have been more careful.
As a result, it was decided that Liu would pay 3,341.45 yuan, 70 percent of the amount Wang named in the lawsuit. The court pointed out that notices were posted on the train reminding people to check with the passenger behind them before reclining the seat.