France Télévisions was sentenced Wednesday by the Dax court to pay 10,000 euros in damages to a Landes hunter who, despite himself, became a star of social networks after appearing in his underwear, armed with a shovel, in a report from 2015. "
This judgment brings the law into conformity with morality by recognizing this intolerable attack on the right to the image
”of Jean-Marc Dutouya, told AFP his defender, Me Frédéric Dutin.
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On November 9, 2015, half a dozen members of the Bird Protection League (LPO), including its president Allain Bougrain-Dubourg, entered a field in the village of Audon (Landes) to destroy several matoles (traps to small birds) to denounce the poaching of finches, a protected species.
During this action, regular in the Landes this season, activists and journalists were attacked by the owners, the Dutouya.
The altercation, between insults, threats, pushes and shovels, had lasted several minutes until the arrival of the gendarmes.
The octogenarian mother of Jean-Marc Dutouya had been jostled.
Four journalists' vehicles had flat tires.
400 euros fine for violence with a weapon
In July 2018, Jean-Marc Dutouya was sentenced on appeal to a fine of 400 euros for violence with a weapon.
In the meantime, he had become in spite of himself a star of social networks, where his photo in underwear and T-shirt, armed with a shovel, had been the subject of countless hijackings.
"
Can a man at home in his garden be handed over as pasture anyhow?"
Justice said no
", welcomed Me Dutin, specifying that his client, who claimed 200,000 euros in damages, was"
extremely satisfied
".
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France Télévisions, which had not reacted at first, will also have to pay 5,000 euros in procedural costs and blur the images of the hunter, according to Me Dutin.