L'intervention de l'assureur au procès pénal

The intervention of the insurer in a penal proceedings

• Auteur / Autrice : Armand Mbarga
• Direction : CH-EMMAN. CLAYS
• Type : Thèse de doctorat
• Discipline(s) : Droit pénal
• Date : Soutenance en 1996
• Etablissement(s) : Lille 2

Résumé

L'intervention volontaire ou forcee des assureurs dans un proces penal avait ete declaree irrecevable par la chambre criminelle de la cour de cassation. Cette jurisprudence avait ete largement contestee. Sur le plan pratique, elle avait pour effet de retarder considerablement l'indemnisation des victimes d'infractions. Les assureurs ne pouvaient pas defendre efficacement leurs interets pecuniaires. Pour acceler l'indemnisation des victimes, le legislateur du 8 juillet 1983 a habilite les assureurs a intervenir devant les juridictions repressives. Ces juridictions peuvent condamner directement l'assureur a indemniser les victimes. Les assureurs de responsabilite disposent d'un simple droit d'intervention, qui leur permet neanmoins de proteger efficacement leurs interets. Ils peuvent contester la responsabilite penale et civile de l'assure, ou soulever des exceptions de nongarantie. La loi du 8 juillet 1983, qui organise une procedure originale d'intervention devant les juridictions repressives temoigne de l'evolution de la procedure penale, pour suivre la transformation du droit penal moderne. Le droit penal moderne n'est plus centre uniquement sur la personne du delinquant. Il s'interesse egalement a la reparation du trouble cause a l'ordre public, par l'indemnisation effective des victimes. La procedure penale, gardienne des libertes individuelles, assure egalement la protection des interets des victimes.

The voluntary or forced intervention of insurers in a penal proceedings was declared ''inadmissible'' by the criminal division of the supreme court of appeal. This case law was largely contested. From a pratical viewpoint, it delayed considerably the indemnification of victims of infrigements. Insurers could not protect efficiently their financial interests. In order to enable the victims to get their compensation more rapidly, the legislation enacted on 8 july, 1983 empowered insurers to take action before penal jurisdictions which can sentence directly the insurer to pay compensation to victims. Liability insurers aree solely entitled to intervene however they can protect their interests efficiently. They can also dispute the civil and penal liability of the insured, or put forward a plea of ''non-guarantee''. Enacted on 8 july, 1983 this law which frames an original intervention procedure before penal jurisdictions, bears witness to the evolving penal procedure, in order to comply with the changing modern penal law which centers not only around the person of the delinquant, as it used to be the case, but also around the atonement of the wrong-doing caused to the public order and this, by the means of an effective indemnification of the victims. The penal proceedings, custodian of individual liberties, also ensures the protection of the victim's interests.