Test cases for compensation
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Nicky Clarke • Lawyers acting for hundreds of hauliers demanding compensation following last year's French blockades are awaiting the outcome of 20 test cases before considering legal action.
Keith Hearn, managing partner at transport lawyers Ford & Warren, says the claims by UK, Irish and Dutch hauliers have been "carefully selected to be representative". There are hundreds more from last year prepared and ready.
Hearn is awaiting the French government's response to these claims before considering legal action at the Court of European Justice. French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin has promised to reply to all 900 compensation claims by midFebruary, hut he won't necessarily wait that long.
To date only five hauliers are believed to have received compensation in full.
A flood of claims is expected from hauliers caught in French blockades earlier this month,as hauliers now know better what evidence is required to prove they were caught in the blockade and lost business as a result.
The French government has dragged its heels over compensation for last year's strikes.
It originally said claims could be made informally with circumstantial evidence. But over the past year it has repeatedly moved the goalposts by demanding more information from claimants in different forms.