Entertainer's Claims of Harassment Dismissed by French Court
A court in France has ruled against an entertainer's claims of being subject to damaging rumors in the workplace, deeming the allegations too vague.
Sam Morgan
- 2024-01-11
- Updated 01:32 AM ET
(NewsNibs) - On November 6, 2023, the administrative court in Melun ruled on a case brought forward by an entertainer from Lognes, Seine-et-Marne. The individual, who has been employed by the municipality since 1999, sought approximately 100,000 euros in damages. The claims centered around an alleged "poisonous atmosphere" precipitated by internal rumors of child abuse and rape of work colleagues, which the entertainer stated had persisted since 2014. The court's decision to deny the claims was made public following the judgment.
Lack of Specifics Undermines Case
In its ruling, the court found that the entertainer's allegations were insufficiently detailed, mentioning acts of sexual violence without providing concrete evidence. The entertainer's inability to provide specifics or evidence regarding the details of the rumors or identities of his supposed defamers further weakened the case. Additionally, inconsistencies in the testimonies, particularly from a female colleague who supported the claims, cast doubt on the accusations. The court also rejected the notion of "ill will" from superiors, citing a lack of response to two emails pertaining to the reservation of a youth activity as inadequate proof.
Judgment and Potential Appeal
The court further noted that the allegations related to a "fabricated" disciplinary file in 2019 weren't substantiated with specific details. The sanction imposed was found to be justified by the facts of the case. Overall, the claims were dismissed as being too imprecise, and the documents submitted failed to provide adequate support for the entertainer's accusations of harassment. While the court concluded there was no evidence of harassment, the entertainer retains the option to appeal the judgment by February 6, 2024. In addition to the civil proceedings, the entertainer had filed a separate criminal complaint for "moral harassment."
