Tragic Palm Tree Accident at Hôtel de Paris Leads to Worker's Death and Legal Battle in Monaco

In a tragic incident from April 2017 at Monaco’s esteemed Hôtel de Paris, two temporary workers were gravely injured when a palm tree, inadequately secured during renovations, toppled over due to strong winds. The accident left one of the workers, Ben Ali Abdallah, paraplegic who after enduring three years of severe suffering, died in March 2020 at the age of 60. An official investigation linked his death directly to the accident, prompting charges of "involuntary manslaughter" and "involuntary injuries" against three companies involved in the renovation project.

The prosecution has criticized the involved landscaping firms for their failure to establish a safety perimeter around the site and has raised concerns that the palm tree was not properly anchored, a lapse attributed potentially to a rushed schedule ahead of the Grand Prix. The incident occurred under challenging conditions with wind gusts reaching 65 km/h, which likely contributed to the tree's fall. Each company implicated has denied knowledge that landscaping and waterproofing tasks were being conducted concurrently, complicating the safety measures.

Legal representatives for the victims' families have demanded accountability and adequate compensation for the irreversible damages caused. First Substitute Prosecutor Julien Pronier emphasized the disregard for safety protocols over expedient project completion, pointing out the absence of crucial safety zones and clear instructions. The court is deliberating a fine of 10,000 euros for the primary landscaping company and 3,000 euros for the waterproofing firm, with a verdict expected on December 10. Defense attorneys, meanwhile, have called for acquittal and urged for stronger workplace safety regulations in Monaco.