The compensation for damage “non pecuniary loss” in criminal proceedings after the decision of the Italian Supreme Court No. 26972/2008 - L’indemnisation du dommage non patrimonial dans le procès pénal après le jugement n° 26972/2008 du 11 novembre 2008 des Chambres Unies Civiles - Il risarcimento del danno non patrimoniale nell’ambito del processo penale dopo la sentenza 26972/2008 dell’11 novembre 2008 delle Sezioni Unite Civili

Abstract

This study sets out in detail the impact of the decision of the Italian Supreme Court No. 26972/2008 on the issue of compensation for non-pecuniary loss suffered by victims of a crime. The Author explains how the above named decision bases its interpretation on the Article 185 of the Italian criminal code, providing to victims of crime more chances of protection than victims of illicit behaviour in civil liability cases, where no crime occurred. The Author also shows the impact of the Italian Supreme Court’s decision on the compensation for non pecuniary loss in case of so-called biological damages (i.e. related to personal injury).

Keywords

• damage non pecuniary loss
• compensation
• criminal proceedings