My lawyer confirmed to me yesterday that my ex-employer not only does not intend to appeal, but has already paid up.
What a relief to see good sense finally prevailing, albeit later, rather than sooner…
NB: Me Eolas has written about his interpretation of events here, with useful links back to his previous posts about the case, as an impartial legal expert.
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petite anglaise 
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Comment by Farfallina -Roam To Rome — August 3, 2007 @ 10:30 am
Congrats!
As a lawyer myself, I can only imagine how smug yours should be now with this succes :-)
Buy yourself something pretty with it, darling, you certainly deserve it! ;-)
Comment by Calypso — August 3, 2007 @ 10:31 am
That’s fab news – CONGRATULATIONS!
(BTW – Could you loan me €40?)
Comment by It's Just Me — August 3, 2007 @ 10:35 am
Congratulations. He was probably hoping that it is not too late not to look the baddie in the Petite movie :-)
Comment by sugar007 — August 3, 2007 @ 10:38 am
Many congratulations to you, from a long-time lurker.
Comment by Scarletina — August 3, 2007 @ 10:59 am
Wow, this is HUGE news! Congrats, and I’ll bet it does feel like an enormous relief to close THAT particular chapter. It’s not like they were going to get any good press out of this either, and if they appealed it would only get worse. At least they exercised their last remaining grain of common sense.
How does it feel to be a precedent-setter in a French court?
Comment by The Bold Soul — August 3, 2007 @ 11:03 am
Many congratulations Petite.
Comment by Jester — August 3, 2007 @ 11:12 am
That is UTTERLY fantastic news!
Congratulations!
Comment by deeleea — August 3, 2007 @ 11:14 am
Brill news – how frustrating that the courts allow such time to pass and the victim to sit around and wait. What a relief – now you can buy yourself that extra special something!
Comment by Jessica — August 3, 2007 @ 11:20 am
I’m utterly happy for you.
A page is turned concerning your secretarial life and the whole of you can now be a writer.
This is tremendous and so well deserved.
Comment by Bennett — August 3, 2007 @ 11:36 am
That is indeed fantastic news. Good for you. Now, we just have the long wait until the 4th of January…
Comment by pierre l — August 3, 2007 @ 11:52 am
Bravo! A very satisfying and just ending!
Comment by sooz — August 3, 2007 @ 11:54 am
Congratulations! What a relief that must be. I’m sure it’s a wonderful feeling to put this behind you.
Comment by BlondebutBright — August 3, 2007 @ 11:55 am
Mazeltov!
Comment by Jeremy Jacobs — August 3, 2007 @ 12:07 pm
Félicitations Petite :-)
Comment by Princesse Ecossaise — August 3, 2007 @ 12:08 pm
Fantabulous! :=) Well done for getting through this and rising like a phoenix from it
Comment by Roberta Collins — August 3, 2007 @ 12:14 pm
Congrats Petite !
Comment by walken — August 3, 2007 @ 12:19 pm
Superb news. Did you feel a fantastic sense of relief or satisfaction when you heard the news?
Comment by Tricky — August 3, 2007 @ 12:21 pm
Ahhh, THAT’S why your celebrating. And rightly so – FANTASTIC news – hurrah!!
Comment by rhino75 — August 3, 2007 @ 12:24 pm
Bravo, Petite! Just think, you are truly a part of French history now. Not only did you set a precedent, but you set a precedent with NO appeal. That’s amazing – especially compared to all the appeals we see in the US. Congrats!
Comment by reavolution — August 3, 2007 @ 12:51 pm
Congratulations Petite!
Comment by beck — August 3, 2007 @ 1:02 pm
Very very very goood news, congratulations !
Comment by David — August 3, 2007 @ 1:05 pm
Finally they see the sense in the expression, “If you can’t handle the heat, get out of the kitchen.”
Comment by Damian — August 3, 2007 @ 1:21 pm
Well done!!
Comment by Sally Lomax — August 3, 2007 @ 1:45 pm
Yay for breaking news. Congratulations.
Comment by Tim — August 3, 2007 @ 1:51 pm
Champagne !
Comment by Rama — August 3, 2007 @ 1:56 pm
Whooo hooo!! Champagne all round!
Comment by AussieGil — August 3, 2007 @ 2:27 pm
I add my congratulations to the rest! And where *are* the rest? There used to be hundreds of comments a day – are they all French and going/coming to/from vacation?
Comment by Alethea — August 3, 2007 @ 2:37 pm
Petite,
This is wonderful news! Congratulations from a longtime reader. Enjoy!
Comment by miss. S — August 3, 2007 @ 2:40 pm
Now victory is complete! You should have the front page of the newspaper with such news!
Congratulations, Petite!
Comment by Pequeña Orquidea — August 3, 2007 @ 2:40 pm
What a great way to start your vacation! Congratulations for your “tenacité”.
Comment by Jacques — August 3, 2007 @ 2:59 pm
Congratulations………and now that saga is finally over……
Comment by Dave of the Lake — August 3, 2007 @ 3:04 pm
I am so happy for you! This is awesome news.
Comment by Nataliya — August 3, 2007 @ 3:26 pm
the world is your oyster Petite!! or at least you can now afford to buy all the oysters you want? (giggling). Many congratulations to you, and thanks for sharing your life with us to enjoy as sheer entertainment.
Comment by beaunejewels — August 3, 2007 @ 3:37 pm
Fantastic news! I guess that, by not appealing, they recognise that they were in the wrong.
Comment by Karen — August 3, 2007 @ 3:47 pm
Congratulations!!! You must be thrilled. It’s a nice change when common sense prevails.
Comment by purple — August 3, 2007 @ 4:08 pm
felicitations
Comment by Kerry — August 3, 2007 @ 4:30 pm
Congratulations! Don’t party too hardy…
Comment by flitestar — August 3, 2007 @ 4:35 pm
Well done and many congratulations from another long time lurker. So pleased for you. Treat yourself.
Comment by Zoe — August 3, 2007 @ 4:37 pm
How marvelous! Good on you for fighting the system. Seems like somebody realized admitting wrongdoing isn’t the end of the world.
Comment by Leslie — August 3, 2007 @ 4:45 pm
Super news! Don’t spend it all in 1 place ;)
Comment by Dexta — August 3, 2007 @ 4:53 pm
Congratulation! And we’re waiting patiently (or not so) for the book.
Comment by materfamilias — August 3, 2007 @ 5:05 pm
Many congrats. Now at last you can move on.
Comment by Michelle — August 3, 2007 @ 5:18 pm
Holy CRAP, talk about good news! Félicitations, Petite — and enjoy the rest of the summer!
You have seriously made history here — in France of all places! :)
Comment by Alice — August 3, 2007 @ 5:20 pm
what a relief. great news petite :)
Comment by shauna — August 3, 2007 @ 5:23 pm
WhoohoooOOOOooOooooO!
Does this mean I can stop subsidizing you now?
;)
Congratulations to our favorite warrior queen.
Comment by Meg — August 3, 2007 @ 5:27 pm
Now you can finally close that particular chapter and move on! What a relief! Enjoy the summer and be sure to celebrate in style!
They must have picked up on all the vibes all your readers were sending in their direction!
Comment by happyforyou — August 3, 2007 @ 5:54 pm
The lateness in the prevalence of good sense has worked in your favour, though, hasn’t it?
I mean, if they had only cautioned you way back then, none of the dream would have unfolded!
Comment by happyforyou — August 3, 2007 @ 5:55 pm
Congratulations Petite!
You are now living in the post-script of Petite Anglaise the movie Part I …
Comment by Jt — August 3, 2007 @ 5:58 pm
Congratulation !
I am a French lawyer. I wrote a French comment of the judgement here.
Comment by Stéphane Boudin — August 3, 2007 @ 6:29 pm
Huge relief, I’ll bet! Very happy for you! CONGRATS! :)
Comment by Karma — August 3, 2007 @ 6:40 pm
Yay!
Comment by xl — August 3, 2007 @ 6:45 pm
Congratulations!
Comment by Karen Mc Cullagh — August 3, 2007 @ 6:56 pm
Good for you Miss Anglaise! From (very) long time lurker.
Comment by Michael — August 3, 2007 @ 7:00 pm
Delurking (I’m bad about that) to say congratulations!! Great news, I hope you savor it. Well done on setting a precedent.
Comment by Allie — August 3, 2007 @ 7:02 pm
Awesome! Congratulations! Now buy yourself a pair of ridiculously expensive shoes and something for tadpole too!
Comment by Vonn Einstein — August 3, 2007 @ 7:20 pm
congratulations! so glad it worked out this way and enjoy your celebrations to fullest.
Comment by nicoleh — August 3, 2007 @ 7:22 pm
Woohoo! What a great summer for you! Happy for the good happening to you these days!
Comment by mardo — August 3, 2007 @ 7:23 pm
What a nice post to start the weekend. Congrats petite
Comment by Jasper Kips — August 3, 2007 @ 7:24 pm
Yee Hah! Zippedy Doodah! Why eye! etc
And just think mortgage shrunk!
Happy for you.
Comment by j — August 3, 2007 @ 7:25 pm
And about time too. Nothing like a sore loser, is there? I should treat yourself to something visually expensive, so you can send them a photograph of yourself enjoying it.
Comment by Autolycus — August 3, 2007 @ 7:34 pm
Tellement chouette!
Fantastic news, petite.
Hugely happy for you and glad to see that sometimes things DO turn out like they should…
Comment by Nick C — August 3, 2007 @ 8:18 pm
Where’s the champagne. Happy to see the employees win for once and really glad it’s you who’s winning. You deserve it.
Comment by Donta — August 3, 2007 @ 8:20 pm
Many, many congrats from a longtime lurker! I’m truly happy for you, Petite!!! Can’t wait for your book…
Comment by marcatann — August 3, 2007 @ 8:49 pm
Excellent! Glad to hear they came to their senses!
Comment by Peg — August 3, 2007 @ 9:09 pm
That really is good news– and when is your book coming out??
Comment by Beau — August 3, 2007 @ 9:28 pm
Felicitations, Congratulations and Mabrouk (Arabic for the same! A well deserved victory!
Comment by Ellie — August 3, 2007 @ 10:08 pm
oh, congratulations!!!!!! woot!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by suzanne — August 3, 2007 @ 10:10 pm
Fine, congratulations. I drank some champagne this evening. Let say that some of the bubbles where to celebrate your legitimate victory.
Comment by Marie-Hélène — August 3, 2007 @ 10:39 pm
Yay for yooooo!
Cadbury’s all round.
B.
Comment by Brennig — August 3, 2007 @ 10:54 pm
Well done. You deserve it after all you went through. And the Bubbles post was lovely. i only wish i could read my three year old granddaughter’s bubbles – but they are in Spanish. She can read my english ones tho’.
Comment by Grannie D — August 3, 2007 @ 11:05 pm
Excellente nouvelle!
Comment by Choubine — August 4, 2007 @ 12:48 am
Fab news! And much deserved. Though I’d still love to know what the senior partner thinks of it all now.
Comment by Paola — August 4, 2007 @ 1:17 am
Chapeau!
Comment by Passante — August 4, 2007 @ 1:17 am
Fabulous news. Enjoy yourself, what a relief it must be to put this all behind you.
Comment by Diane — August 4, 2007 @ 2:20 am
congrats, petite! :-D
Comment by Em — August 4, 2007 @ 3:25 am
Oh, congratulations & all that.
It doesn’t matter that it took some time. What’s important is that you get what is due you. Looking back, it’s the best thing that could have happened to you. Your life is completely different and you are doing what you are meant to to rather than a tedious job for someone else……
Comment by linda from jersey (that's new jersey USA) — August 4, 2007 @ 3:43 am
“If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools…”
Congrats Petite..
Comment by Katrina — August 4, 2007 @ 3:54 am
Great news! So happy for you and Tadpole. It was a ridiculous charge(s) made against you by the former employer in the first place.
Your saga and writing about it inspire so many people; I count myself among them.
It is so difficult to fight the big guys. I so admire you for having done so. Your win is the “bees’ knees”, “icing on the cake”, “ne plus ultra.”
Hope to be able to meet you on one of your book promotions.
Missouri Moi,
PJ Carz
Comment by PJ Carz — August 4, 2007 @ 3:56 am
Woo hoo! I’m sure that’s a great relief.
Comment by ~Tim — August 4, 2007 @ 5:41 am
It’s nice to see that sometimes good things happen in the French legal system. It certainly hasn’t been that way for me. I know things can be wacky in the States with law suits and all but I sure would like it here in France for my legal situation. I’ve never seen such a waste of time as trying to get something done in a law suit here in France. Sigh.
Comment by Linda — August 4, 2007 @ 6:58 am
Justice has been done. Congratulations! You have made the internet safe for employed bloggers everywhere ;)
Comment by lisele — August 4, 2007 @ 7:54 am
Bravo !
Jurisprudence établie sans appel: c’est géant!
Comment by Saluki — August 4, 2007 @ 8:45 am
Many, many congratulations for toughing this one out and getting what you rightfully deserve. Seems like life is all falling into place.
Comment by Mark — August 4, 2007 @ 9:35 am
Wonderful!!! Congratulations!
Your former employer got off lucky. You deserved much more. I can’t wait to see your book. You deserve every happiness, Petite.
Comment by chris — August 4, 2007 @ 10:23 am
Great news! Very happy for you.
Enjoy
Comment by nerd — August 4, 2007 @ 11:50 am
That is wonderful news. Now you can forget your past employment altogether and enjoy life to the full.
It’s great to know that what seemed like a terrible turn of events at the time has changed your future for the better.
Comment by sablonneuse — August 4, 2007 @ 1:22 pm
Congratulations Petite! I’m also a Parisian Yorkshire girl at home at the moment, keeping in touch with Paris life through your blog. It’s great that as others have said, the French legal system is not as bad as we sometimes hear!
Comment by Paris lights — August 4, 2007 @ 8:12 pm
Congrats Petite!
Comment by Caffienated Cowgirl — August 4, 2007 @ 8:35 pm
Yowzaa! Ouf!
Comment by malcolm thomson — August 5, 2007 @ 8:48 am
They should have given you triple damages just to teach those idiots a lesson. Is the managing partner of that outfit still employed? He or she needs to be put out to pasture.
Comment by Tim — August 5, 2007 @ 5:00 pm
Good. Now DON’T spend it. Enjoy the moral superiority but NOT the burning of money. Invest it safely.
Of course, you could invest it in a bigger property…
Happy Days xxx
Comment by andrew — August 5, 2007 @ 10:39 pm
Yay for you!
I will raise a glass of Pinot to your success. Look around at your life and recognize it – you went through all that and now you are more: more to yourself, more to your readers, more to the world of bloggers… you have grown. Thank you for sharing so much of it.
*mwah*
Comment by eric — August 6, 2007 @ 4:17 am
Félicitations pour cette bonne nouvelle !
Tu peut maintenant tourner la page définitivement et penser a autre chose.
Way to go !!
Comment by Thierry_J — August 6, 2007 @ 10:19 am
Congratulations!
Comment by Beth — August 6, 2007 @ 12:23 pm
Congratulations!!
Comment by Dan — August 6, 2007 @ 12:30 pm
Congratulations Petite.
That’s really good news. It really doesn’t seem like a year since the story broke. It seems they have finally smelt the coffee and realised they have made themselves look stupid enough already and it really would not make sense to drag it out any more..
Either way, great news. x
Comment by David In London — August 6, 2007 @ 4:46 pm
Hooray for you. Here’s to the future Petite. I will have a G and T for you tonight.
Comment by Catkin — August 6, 2007 @ 6:14 pm
Well, imagine my surprise!
I read the legal opinion piece you linked to and followed the suggestion of Me Eolas to google Dixon Wilson to see just how much bad press they’d received. I picked out what looked to be an interesting article (and turned out to be well worth reading) on the lessons learned from the affair on AccountingWeb — and found it quoted my own comment on your original post!
http://www.accountingweb.co.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=166764&d=1025&dateformat=%25o-%25B
Comment by Passante — August 6, 2007 @ 6:23 pm
What terrific news! Congratulations. I don’t know much about the French legal system, but according to my legal friends, the fact that you won in the first place was huge, and now that the employer is complying with the verdict—well that is good news for workers everywhere. We owe our employers a good day’s work for what they pay us, but they don’t own our thoughts and our personal time. So THERE!
Comment by Sparrow — August 6, 2007 @ 6:31 pm
gorgeous! now you can plan more holidays somewhere exotic or not?!
Comment by est — August 6, 2007 @ 6:57 pm
Bloody hell – you get a lot of comments!
Comment by Daddy Papersurfer — August 6, 2007 @ 6:59 pm
Who are all these people?
Comment by Daddy Papersurfer — August 6, 2007 @ 7:00 pm
Blimey
Comment by Daddy Papersurfer — August 6, 2007 @ 7:01 pm
Blimey indeed. Never understood this blog.
Comment by nobby — August 6, 2007 @ 11:54 pm
Great news, congrats!
Comment by Rachel — August 7, 2007 @ 4:49 am
Congratulationd my dear!
Comment by Peggy — August 7, 2007 @ 9:28 am
Félicitations ! Après tout ce temps d’attente, maintenant le temps d’en profiter…
Maître Eolas en parle très bien, d’ailleurs, félicitations (bis) pour le formidable couple que vous formons dans le paysage du droit français ;-)
Comment by Teaperson — August 7, 2007 @ 6:52 pm
As an afterthought, did your ex employer seek any constraints over your freedom to write about them in future? Of course they have no hold over you having lost but I’m interested to know how they view your power to hurt them, or rather, to disclose their shortcomings as an employer.
I look forward to reading THAT chapter!
Comment by andrew — August 7, 2007 @ 8:15 pm
have you recovered from the celebratory hang over yet?
Comment by grayarea — August 7, 2007 @ 10:06 pm
Congrats. A well-earned victory indeed.
Comment by rhubarb — August 8, 2007 @ 2:03 am
You must feel so relieved that it is over. Glad everything worked out!
Comment by Caroline — August 8, 2007 @ 8:07 am
Congratulations.
I can imagine the sense of closure this news brings. It should be a hell of a celebration!
Comment by Viviane — August 8, 2007 @ 7:41 pm
Congratulations Petite!
Comment by Mais oui — August 9, 2007 @ 5:18 pm
Congratulations! Now’s the time to break out the bubbly!
Comment by Lost in France — August 9, 2007 @ 5:57 pm
Well, that sounds nice. Just have to write congratulations… I Hope you won’t have a bad feeling against France after your adventure…
Have a good writting
Romook
Comment by Romook — August 10, 2007 @ 11:06 pm
Seriously chuffed for you, Catherine. Thanks for the mutual support……
Comment by Colin Randall — August 14, 2007 @ 5:31 pm
Good news Petite
I’ll have to pass that on that to a friend (she’s the president of a uk union http://www.connectuk.org) and they sometimes represnt people working for companies based in france.
Comment by Katha — August 29, 2007 @ 1:35 pm