French Code of Criminal Procedure
In forceAny person claiming to have been injured by a crime or offence may, by lodging a complaint, bring a civil action before the competent investigating judge pursuant to the provisions of the articles 52, 52-1 et 706-42.
However, a civil party complaint is only admissible if the person can prove either that the public prosecutor has informed him or her, following a complaint lodged with him or her or with a criminal investigation department, that he or she will not initiate proceedings, or that a period of three months has elapsed since the complaint was lodged with this magistrate, against a receipt or by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, or since a copy of the complaint lodged with a criminal investigation department was sent to this magistrate in the same way. This admissibility condition is not required in the case of a felony or an offence under the law of 29 July 1881 on freedom of the press or by the articles L. 86, L. 87, L. 91 to L. 100, L. 102 to L. 104, L. 106 to L. 108 and L. 113 of the Electoral Code.
By way of derogation from Article 5 of this Code, a victim who has brought an action before a civil court during the period provided for in the second paragraph may bring a civil action before the examining magistrate after having withdrawn from the civil proceedings.
Where the civil action is brought by a profit-making legal entity, it shall only be admissible if the legal entity provides evidence of its resources by attaching its balance sheet and profit and loss account.
>The civil action may be brought before the examining magistrate after having withdrawn from the civil action.The civil action may be brought by a profit-making legal entity only if the legal entity provides evidence of its resources by attaching its balance sheet and profit and loss account.
The civil action may be brought before the examining magistrate after having withdrawn from the civil action.
