|
|
|
| ||
 |
|
 
|
|
Wednesday, November 8, 2006 · Last updated 2:35 p.m. PT France to consider class action lawsuits PARIS -- Finance Minister Thierry Breton presented a draft bill on Wednesday that would introduce class action lawsuits into the French legal system for the first time. The legislation, presented at the weekly Cabinet meeting, is expected to be voted on before the end of the current parliamentary session in February. French consumer associations have pushed for the change, which would allow consumers who feel they have been wronged or cheated to take companies to court collectively, rather than being forced to bring individual lawsuits - a rarity in France. Business representatives have opposed the measure, citing concerns over its potential impact on the economy. President Jacques Chirac, who opened the way to class action lawsuits in 2005, said the French version would "avoid the abuses of the Anglo-Saxon system," a reference mainly to class action suits in the United States. Under the French version, a lawsuit could be brought only by a national consumer association on products or services with a value of less than $2,550. The bill would exclude health-related issues.  
|
|
 |
|
 
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
also available by e-mail
also available by RSS
