Eternit found guilty of gross negligence
(Eternit condamne pour "faute inexcusable")
Les Echos - France; Oct 30, 2000

On Friday a court in Douai, France, found Eternit, the French building materials group, guilty of gross negligence in relation to 41 former employees of its Thiant (Nord) factory. The court awarded significant sums to victims of pulmonary diseases resulting from the inhalation of significant amounts of asbestos.

The court also recognised the prejudice suffered by victims who had died, and awarded compensation which will go towards their estates. Sylvie Topaloff, lawyer for the victims, said that symbolically it was very important that recognition be given to people whose lives had been cut short.