Yo, listen up! Back in the day, a 13-year-old decided to toss a radio off a bridge onto an oncoming train, all caught on camera. Fast forward a few years, and now this kid's facing some serious financial consequences. In February 2020, the stunt caused around €42,000 worth of damage to the train. DB Regio AG, the railway company, was seeking compensation, and after some negotiations, the teen agreed to pay back €42,000 in monthly installments. If he's managed to pay half the amount by 2032, the remaining debt gets waved off.
The train emergency braked upon impact, but thankfully, the 75 passengers onboard were safe and sound. As for the kid, since he was underage at the time, he couldn't be criminally charged. However, under civil law, if a kid 10 or above can understand the consequences of their actions, they can be held liable for damages. That's what the rail company argued.
This whole radio-throwing incident became a lengthy legal process with money on the line. In criminal law, the parents would normally take the hit. But in civil law, it's different. If a kid causes damage, the parents or guardians are often considered responsible. To claim compensation, you need to demonstrate the damage, prove fault, and if the parents were negligent, you can seek compensation from them.
Civil law in action: In this case, the parents would typically be held liable under civil law since their kid was under their care and in their home at the time of the incident.
