Reuters reported on 15 July 2022, the rejection by a UK judge of the Airbus request to impose the French law which restricts the way French companies respond in foreign courts.

Given the case of Qatar Airways having sued France-base Airbus for damaged paint surfaces and safety hazards; multiple documents are to be presented from both sides for the London aerospace trial in mid-2023.

The law attempted to be applied, is also known as the "French blocking statute". The law is something that was founded in 1968 that prevented French companies from presenting documents and crucial economic information in foreign courts. It was brought about to protect French companies from oppressive foreign court demands.

Airbus requested the judge to appoint a a special commissioner who would be responsible in handing over the documents to Qatar Airways.

However, as per the article the judge stated the following:

"That in my judgment is a million miles away from what this case is all about,"

He further stated, "This is hardly the example of an unwilling, vulnerable French company that has now found itself having to cope with a highly intrusive and oppressive form of discovery".

Source: Reuters
Cover image credit: Shutterstock

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Fareeha Imtiaz

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