>   So after s quick search, seems that the containment of the
 >  general electric designed reactor(s) failed? Maybe americunts
 >  should be paying damages?

How so?  It looks like it worked like it was designed to work.  The problem is, a decision had been made about making a seawall only a certain height, and putting the switching circuitry in the basement which could be flooded.  No doubt both these decisions had been approved by the Japanese involved.

Now, if it had been determined later that they wanted to protect against much larger earthquakes and higher tsunamis, they could have increased the seawall height and sealed the basement of the reactor better.  They chose not to do so.  

              Jim Bell