This archive report was first published on 5 September 2019.
Published on September 5, 2019, a French court has ruled in favor of Maurice, a rooster whose early-morning crowing had been the subject of a high-profile lawsuit.
The case, which has garnered international attention, was brought by Corinne Fesseau's neighbors who claimed that Maurice's crowing was disrupting their peace.
However, the court upheld Maurice's right to sing, and Fesseau's lawyer, Julien Papineau, told AFP that the plaintiffs must pay her €1,000 in damages.
Ms. Fesseau had argued that her neighbors had never complained about Maurice's crowing before a couple of pensioners bought a holiday home next door.
She had attempted to silence Maurice by placing black sheets around his coop, but to no avail.
Ms. Fesseau expressed her relief at the court's decision, saying, 'I'm speechless. It's a victory for everyone in the same situation as me. I hope it will set a precedent for them.'
The case has sparked a national debate about the rights of rural residents to enjoy their traditional way of life, with many seeing it as a threat to France's hallowed rural heritage.
