Today, a court in Paris relaunched a criminal investigation of 6 former Eternit executives, including Joseph Cuvelier, Director of the French asbestos-cement giant (1972-1994). Judge Bertella-Geffroy reversed a lower court's decision that had stayed proceedings against the executives; as a result it is likely that action for the asbestos-related deaths of 23 employees and involuntary injuries to 10 employees will commence next year.

Like the previous Italian trial of Eternit executives which handed down guilty verdicts in February 2012, this case has been brought not by the injured parties but by the Public Prosecutor. See: La cour de cassation relance le dossier pénal de l'amiante.

(International Ban Asbestos Secretariat, 26/06/2012)