I love the French

[SigmaChiCard]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/internatio...525590,00.html

Bus firm takes car sharers to court

Kim Willsher in Paris
Monday July 11, 2005
The Guardian

They might have been congratulated for their "green" efforts in an area of heavy air pollution.

Instead a group of French cleaning ladies who organised a car-sharing scheme to get to work are being taken to court by a coach company which accuses them of "an act of unfair and parasitical competition".

The women, who live in Moselle and work five days a week at EU offices in Luxembourg, are being taken to court by Transports Schiocchet Excursions, which runs a service along the route. It wants the women to be fined and their cars confiscated.

Two years ago a business tribunal threw out the company's case. It is now pursuing the women in a higher court, claiming that their action has cost it €2m (£1.4m).

The women explained that for many years cleaners used the TSE line for the 40-minute ride across the border, which cost them €110 (£76) a month.

"Using our cars is quicker and at least twice as cheap. And on the bus we didn't have the right to eat or even to speak," said Martine Bourguignon. Odette Friedmann added: "In the evening instead of coming to get us at 9.30pm the bus would arrive at 10.30pm. If you made any comment to the driver you'd get a mouthful of abuse."

"It's absurd and ridiculous," said the women's lawyer, Cécile Klein-Schmitt. "I don't see how any magistrate can find any legal basis for this case."

TSE is also suing the women's employer, Onet-Luxembourg. "They've basically accused us of inciting the car-sharing scheme when we have nothing to do with the method of transport used by our staff," said director Frédéric Sirerol.

The court case will be heard in January next year.

[RedRoseSAI]

Let me see if I understand this: A group of women share a car to get to work. A bus company happens to have a coach service along the route they take to work. The bus company is suing these women because they won't ride the bus? No, seriously...is that it? Am I missing something?

I love France and I love the French, but this is un pur stupide.

[SigmaChiCard]

...yep, that's just about it.

the fact they'd try to sue is bad - the fact the courts are going actually hear it is ridiculous

[moe.ron]

Wow

[Tom Earp]

How do you say ingnorant in French?

Biggest thing about France Since the Tower was Whats His Butts Nose!

Oh For Grins, The French Wines are interwined with The American. If need more Info, Just ask!

[AOII_LB93]

Originally posted by Tom Earp
How do you say ingnorant in French?

Biggest thing about France Since the Tower was Whats His Butts Nose!

Oh For Grins, The French Wines are interwined with The American. If need more Info, Just ask!

WTF are you talking about??

Ignorant...that's how you say it in French.

[valkyrie]

There have been stupider legal battles in the U.S., I'm afraid. Anyway, France is awesome.

[Optimist Prime]

Originally posted by RedRoseSAI
Let me see if I understand this: A group of women share a car to get to work. A bus company happens to have a coach service along the route they take to work. The bus company is suing these women because they won't ride the bus? No, seriously...is that it? Am I missing something?

I love France and I love the French, but this is un pur stupide.

this is their version of freedom fries. They don't like French people working at the EU in Luxemburg.

[PhiPsiRuss]

Originally posted by valkyrie
Anyway, France is awesome.

Yeah, France is really awesome in the way that they are the only ones who export dual use nuclear technology to anyone who wants to buy it. They're also really awesome in the way that they never use their political clout to stop genocides, but often use their political power to stop interventions in genocides. They are so awesome.

[DeltAlum]

I enjoy going to Paris in August when all the French are out of town on vacation.