The following
Reuters Article refers to the Cour de Cassation ruling which held the giant French oil company Total responsible in both the criminal and civil domains for damage caused when the Italian oil tanker "Erika" split in two in 1999 and sank off the French coast, but in international waters. The environmental damage was severe, but Total had argued that it had only chartered the vessel and was therefore not responsible.
The judgement helps to confirm the jurisdiction of the French courts where incidents happen in international waters, and which ultimately covers wet leased aircraft registered outside of France, but operating a French airline service.
None of this is directly related to AF447, though it does confirm the jurisdiction the French courts have over this accident.