Her case was dismissed in 2021 by the Judicial Tribunal of Evry and the ruling was upheld by the Paris Court of Appeal in 2024.
But on Thursday, Bertrand Repolt, a member of Nga's legal team, said that during the Court of Cassation’s review of the appeal, a public prosecutor recommended overturning the appeal court’s decision. The reporting judge had also submitted legal opinions, he added.
The central issue before the top court is whether private companies that manufactured and supplied Agent Orange to the US military during the war in Vietnam can claim jurisdictional immunity for their actions, said Repolt at a press conference at the French Senate.
According to the lawyer, the Court of Cassation's decision to hold a public hearing on the case and make its ruling publicly available reflect the case's exceptional importance.
Should the Court of Cassation overturn the 2024 ruling, the case will likely be referred back to a differently constituted panel of the Paris Court of Appeal for consideration on its merits.
Michelle Gréaume, Vice Chair of the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defense and Armed Forces Committee of France, voiced support for Nga and highlighted the long-lasting impact of Agent Orange on both the environment and human health.
French organizations supporting Agent Orange/dioxin victims said their movement has gained broad backing from civil society, environmental and political groups. According to representatives of Collectif Vietnam Dioxine, more than 60 organizations have joined calls in support of the lawsuit and will hold a rally at Bastille Square in Paris on June 20.
