Death of a little girl linked to pesticides: the family files an appeal

The parents of a little girl who died of leukemia linked to her mother's exposure to pesticides during her pregnancy, a florist, have filed an appeal to the French Supreme Court (Cour d'Estaing) seeking specific compensation, the PhytoVictimes association announced to AFP on April 15. The appeal was filed on January 20, according to the document consulted by AFP. In addition to Laure and François Marivain, the parents of little Emmy, two other family members have joined the appeal.

Laure Marivain was exposed to numerous herbicides from the age of 20 in her profession as a florist and flower wholesaler, cleaning blue and yellow stains from pesticide-covered plants imported from abroad that she received in large quantities. Her daughter Emmy died of leukemia in March 2022 at the age of 11 and a half.

Read alsoPesticides: ANSES will assess the risks incurred by florists

Parents' request deemed inadmissible

In early April 2022, his parents filed a claim with the Pesticide Victims Compensation Fund (FIVP). This fund is responsible, in particular, for compensating " children exposed to pesticides during the prenatal period " because of their parents' profession and having developed a pathology. In July 2023, they obtained recognition from the FIVP of the link between pesticide exposure and leukemia, which offered them compensation of 25,000 euros each for moral damages, in accordance with the scale provided for by law.

But the parents demanded that the damage suffered by their daughter, as well as the suffering of her brother, sister and grandmother, all affected by her multiple hospital stays and her death, be also taken into account and compensated. On December 4, the Rennes Court of Appeal rejected this request, ruling that " the requests are inadmissible "parents" acting as legal representatives of their minor daughter“.

To support the family and cover legal costs. around 15,000 euros"The PhytoVictimes association has launched an online fundraising campaign on the Helloasso platform," it further told AFP.