The three publications of Isabelle Perraud on the Instagram account Paie Ton Pinard about the winemaker Sébastien Riffault are “constituting defamation” for the Bourges court. The first says she is “annoyed” and does not comment on an appeal, the second is satisfied and considers other consequences.
V
feminist ignoramus of Beaujolais against renowned winegrower of Sancerre. Delivering its judgment this Friday, June 2, the Bourges court posits that “the publications about Sébastien Riffault posted by Isabelle Perraud on his instagram account @paye-tonpinard on May 16, June 14 and 15, 2022 constitute defamation “, having relayed, without enough tweezers and conditional, accusations of sexual violence against Sébastien Riffault, implicated since January 2022 in Denmark. It was in the summer of 2022 that Sancerre winemaker Sébastien Riffault filed a complaint against Beaujolais winemaker Isabelle Perraud, president of the Paie Ton Pinard association and host of the Instagram account of the same name.
After a tense hearing on April 6, Isabelle Perraud was ordered to pay €29,000 in damages (€1,500 for non-pecuniary damage, €24,421 for economic damage* and €3,000 for bailiff’s costs engaged). In detail, the court notably considered that “the peremptory nature of the remarks used, without the measure expected with regard to the sensitivity of the subject, but above all, without taking the elementary precaution of recalling the cardinal principle of the presumption of innocence of French law, despite their certain seriousness, since they consist in designating, without any other form of trial, Mr. Riffault, as a recidivist sexual aggressor, appears constitutive of a characterized culpable imprudence aggravated by the chosen media which facilitates its dissemination. » For the court, it is therefore a question of defamation.
Purpose of general interest
However, the judgment establishes that the winegrower relied on information “sometimes fragile” but “concordant”. It also establishes that she “has not shown any personal animosity and that she has acted well for a purpose of general interest in the sense that the theme of her message has interested, for several years and the emergence of the “me too” movement having aims to free the voice of women who are victims of acts of a sexual nature, particularly the public. »
Next round?
Unsurprisingly, Sébastien Riffault’s lawyer, Maître Eugène Bangoura, reported that his client was ” very satisfied “ of this judgment. “Ms. Perraud considered herself in her right to accuse my client of sexual assault, Justice replied that she was defaming him. It’s tragic for the cause she defends. She led a tyrannical crusade that does her and everyone else a disservice. » Asked about possible new procedures carried out by Sébastien Riffault, against other publications, the lawyer “don’t rule anything out. We are considering a sequel. » To date and to our knowledge, no complaint has been filed against Sébastien Riffault, either in Denmark or in France.
For her part, Isabelle Perraud showed herself “disappointed” by judgment, according to his lawyer Thibault de Saulce-Latour. “Although it is clearly recognized that there was no personal animosity and that she worked in the general interest”emphasizes the lawyer, “the Court kicked in touch by rejecting the proof of the defamatory fact” (the demonstration that the accusations made would be true), because the elements relate to private life and are therefore not admissible. Thibault de Saulce-Latour is also said to be ” surprised “ by the amount ” excessive “ damages. Isabelle Perraud has one month to decide to appeal.
*: Concerning the calculation of damages, Sébastien Riffault reporting a loss of his turnover, the court considered that Isabelle Perraud ” born [pouvait] not be held solely responsible for this misfortune”. The court assessed the liability of the winegrower at 20% of the loss.
