Commentary on Judgment No. 8910 of 2024: Abuse of Process and Legal Costs

The recent Order No. 8910 of April 4, 2024, issued by the Court of Appeal of Naples, provides interesting insights regarding the management of legal costs in cases of fair compensation. In particular, the Court addressed the issue of abuse of process, highlighting how the simultaneous filing of separate petitions by multiple parties with the same legal representation can lead to significant consequences.

The Regulatory Context and the Judgment

The Court referred to the principles established by the European Convention on Human Rights regarding the right to a fair trial and the reasonable duration of proceedings. In this regard, the maxim expressed by the judgment states:

In general. In terms of fair compensation, the conduct of multiple parties who simultaneously submit distinct petitions, even with identical legal representation, thus giving rise to cases inevitably destined for consolidation, as they are related by subject and title, constitutes abuse of process, conflicting with the imperative duty of solidarity, which prevents the burden of increased legal costs from falling on the debtor State, as well as with the constitutional principle of reasonable duration of the process, considering the elongation of procedural times caused by the unnecessary proliferation of proceedings; such abuse, while not sanctionable with the inadmissibility of the petitions, as the tool adopted is not illegitimate but rather the methods of its use, nevertheless imposes, as far as possible, the elimination of the distorting effects that result and, therefore, the assessment of the burden of costs as if the procedure had been unique from the outset.

This maxim clearly emphasizes that the presentation of multiple petitions by parties in an identical situation, while legitimate, can be considered an abuse that negatively impacts the efficiency of the judicial system. The principle of solidarity between citizens and the State becomes crucial in this context, as the proliferation of related cases can lead to a significant increase in legal costs and an extension of the time taken to resolve disputes.

The Practical Implications of the Judgment

The implications of the judgment are multiple and concern both the parties involved in similar cases and the lawyers who assist them. Among the most relevant consequences, we can list:

  • Need to carefully assess the filing of separate petitions by multiple parties.
  • Possible consolidation of proceedings into a single case when the conditions for connection exist.
  • Possibility of assessing legal costs as if the procedure were unique, to avoid unjustified increases in costs.

These aspects are fundamental to ensuring efficient and sustainable justice, in line with the principles of fairness and reasonable duration of proceedings.

Conclusions

In conclusion, judgment No. 8910 of 2024 represents an important step forward in regulating legal costs and combating abuse of process. It invites legal professionals to reflect on the importance of a more coordinated and responsible approach to managing disputes, leveraging principles of solidarity and efficiency. Justice, in fact, must be an accessible right and not a burden on the system, and this order moves in that direction.

Bianucci Law Firm