PRESSMEDDELANDE
From: Estonia Litigation Association
www.elaestonia.org
May 29, 2005
Re: Urgent concerns about the handling of the M/V Estonia case in the court of Nanterre, France, on May 30, 2005.
Five days before the next scheduled hearing of the Paris process, a representative of ELA delivered a letter and a list of 852 victims from the sinking of Estonia to the court and the judge handling the case, Madame Hélène Godard. Because Judge Godard has been ill, the letter was also addressed to the President of the court, Madame Sylvie Meslin.
The Chairman of ELA, Helje Kaskel, decided to contact the court directly because of urgent concerns of the1200 plaintiffs about the handling of the case:
- The case, which began in September 1996, has languished in a legal quagmire for almost 9 years and has failed to make any progress.
- To this day, the essence of the case "What caused the tragic sinking of Estonia and who was responsible for it?" has not been heard in the Court of Nanterre. When, if ever, will this case start?
- To this day, no one has been held accountable for the worst maritime disaster in Europe since WW II.
- Since November 23, 2003 when the case was "re-activated", the parties have met only on one occasion. Five court dates were postponed until the hearing of February 14, 2005 took place during which nothing substantive occurred.
- The relatives feel removed from the case since they have been given no feedback about what is really going on with the case, from their attorney, Erik Schmill, in spite of repeated requests for information.
- Mr. Schmill has not seen the need to negotiate and agree to a basic contract to clarify legal fees and obligations to the plaintiffs, possible outcomes, and the costs and benefits of being a member of the process.
ELA chairman Helje Kaskel told Judge Godard that if justice is to be served, it's time to demand to see the new evidence on the sinking of Estonia. She said that Judge Godard has been given an opportunity to make a substantive contribution to the families of the victims, and to the survivors. Judge Godard has an opportunity to determine what caused the tragic sinking of Estonia. She should demand a proper forensic examination of the entire crime scene.
On behalf of the 1200 litigation members, Helje Kaskel is expressing the relatives wish that Judge Godard do everything possible to move the case forward and to insure that the plaintiffs receive proper and professional representation from their lawyers, which they feel they have not received.
The next hearing of the case is scheduled to Monday, May 30, 2005 in the Court of Nanterre at 14.30 in the Annex, in Chamber 6, Room E.
Attorneys representing defendants Bureau Veritas and Jos L Meyer Werft Gmbh, and plaintiffs lawyer Schmill & Lombrez are expected to take part in the hearing. The press is welcome to observe the hearing since the parties involved rarely meet. Is this for real or all just a show?
The address of the court: Tribunal de Grande Instance de Nanterre, Palais de Justice, 179/191, Avenue Joliot Curie, 92 020, Nanterre Cedex, France
Tel. +33 1 40 97 10 10
The case numbers: RG 0412238 and RG 0311275
Helje Kaskel,
Chairman ELA
E-mail: ela_estonia@yahoo.se
* Estonia Litigation Association is an international victims' group founded in June 10, 2002 in Gränna, Sweden, to hasten the resolution of the Estonia disaster. |
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