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Cases / Law, regulation and treaties · France · 2019

Socfin and Socapalm defamation suits against French media and NGOs fail

Short record: the main facts, with sources. A full case file has not been prepared.

Nature's voice · report
No measurement of the harm done to me here is on record.
Did nature suffer? Not measured.
Not on record
  • The record does not name which of my species, waters, soils or forests were harmed.
What the record lacks: 2 none on record · 1 insufficient · 1 not measured · 1 unclear See the gaps

Socfin and Socapalm, Bolloré-linked palm oil companies, brought defamation suits against Mediapart, L'Obs, Le Point, Sherpa and ReAct over reporting on palm oil. The claimants lost at first instance and withdrew their appeal.

What?
Socfin and Socapalm defamation suits against Mediapart, L'Obs, Le Point, Sherpa and ReAct, heard in France. Reporterre
Where?
France. Reporterre
When?
Trial opened 25 January 2019; verdict date not confirmed. Reporterre
Who?
Gained
  • Mediapart, L'Obs, Le Point, Sherpa and ReAct — Prevailed at first instance Reporterre
Lost
  • Socfin and Socapalm — Lost the defamation case at first instance and withdrew their appeal Reporterre
Harmed
None on record
Why?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
How?
Defamation lawsuits in a French court against media and NGO reporting on palm oil. Reporterre
6 of 6 questions answered from the record

What happened

The record, in order.

According to Reporterre, the defamation suit against Mediapart, L'Obs, Le Point, Sherpa and ReAct opened on 25 January 2019.

The prosecutor sought acquittal on grounds of good faith, and the claimants lost at first instance and withdrew their appeal, according to Reporterre.

The Business and Human Rights Resource Centre lists the Socfin/Socapalm lawsuit among those in which the company lost.

Bolloré and Socfin have brought at least 20 suits since 2009 over palm oil reporting, according to the sources reviewed.

    In court and with insurers

    Every proceeding and every insurer decision on record.

    Lawsuits and rulings

    1. Defendant won
      Defamation suit against Mediapart, L'Obs, Le Point, Sherpa and ReAct
      French first-instance court (name not stated) · Civil · Socfin and Socapalm → Mediapart, L'Obs, Le Point, Sherpa and ReAct

      Trial opened 25 January 2019. The prosecutor sought acquittal on grounds of good faith. The claimants lost at first instance and withdrew their appeal. Reporterre

    Insurers

    No insurer decision on record.

    What we don't know

    Undisclosed, unproven, untried: recorded as data.

    Nature

    • Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.

    Record

    • None on record Exact verdict date: not confirmed.
    • None on record The first-instance court is not named in the sources reviewed.
    • Unclear Whether Bolloré itself was a party to the defamation suit is not stated in the sources reviewed.
    • Insufficient Reported but not verified: Bolloré's defamation suits against media were lost.

    Did the harm stop?

    Not stated in the sources reviewed.

    Who paid?

    Not stated in the sources reviewed.

    Sources

    Voices on record: — Company or project— Government and regulators— Courts✓ Press and investigations✓ Communities and civil society— Researchers

    Press and investigations

    Communities and civil society

    1. Socfin/Socapalm lawsuit re defamation by NGOs, media outlets (France)
      Business & Human Rights Resource Centre · 2019

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