Mom to pay son for throwing out comics

The Chiayi District Court has ruled that a mother must pay NT$5,000 (approximately USD $160) in damages after she threw out her son’s collection of 32 Attack on Titan comic books.

According to Taipei Times, The court noted that while the fine can be converted to community labor and the ruling can still be appealed, the case highlights a strained relationship between the mother and her 20-year-old son.

The mother, identified by her surname Chien, had been living with her son, whose passion for collecting manga and magazines caused tension in their household.

The mother stated that due to limited space and concerns over mold developing on the comics from the humidity, she decided to throw them away. The son, outraged by the loss of his collection—some of which included out-of-print editions—sued his mother for destruction of property.

Despite Chien expressing regret and seeking an out-of-court settlement, she failed to attend further hearings. Her son was also unwilling to engage in court-mediated discussions, leading to an official indictment under the Criminal Code.

In its decision, the court ruled that although Chien and her son have a familial relationship, Chien was still required to respect her son’s property rights.

However, since the books’ monetary value was not significant and the act of destruction was deemed mild, the court set the damages at NT$5,000.