Was it necessary to remind you of this? This Wednesday, the magistrates of the Versailles Court of Appeal definitively absolved his parents of any responsibility in the death of Othmane, this 7-year-old boy who was the victim of an elevator accident in October 2015 in Mantes-la- Jolie (Yvelines).
The court was seized by the elevator manufacturer Otis. The company, whose turnover is close to 13 billion euros, contested the 60,000 euros in compensation to which it had been ordered during previous trials. According to the group’s lawyer, the parents’ responsibilities had not been sufficiently discussed.
The magistrates have just answered him: the parents of the young victim have nothing to reproach themselves for in the tragedy. The cabin was defective and it is the elevator operator, as well as to a lesser extent the social landlord of the building, who is responsible. “It’s good to hear it,” breathes his mother Soumia. We knew it wasn’t our fault. But by dint of pointing fingers at us, by dint of questioning us, Otis managed to make me doubt… Sometimes I wondered if I had done the right thing, if I hadn’t made a mistake in doing so. let you take the elevator alone. That the Court of Appeal goes our way is a great relief to me. »
The court’s ruling should close nine years of proceedings begun the day after the tragedy. Due to the various appeals made by Otis, six trials were necessary to definitively arbitrate this case. The company can theoretically appeal the latest decision to the Supreme Court, but the chances of this appeal being deemed admissible would then be extremely slim. “In the meantime, I will finally be able to begin my mourning, project myself a little, clear my head, enjoy time with my children,” adds Soumia. All these years I was there but my mind was elsewhere. These trials were my only obsession. I’ll be able to wake up. »
