Order No. 10337 of 2024: Reflections on Res Judicata and Quantum in Civil Law

The recent Order No. 10337 of April 17, 2024, issued by the Court of Cassation, provides relevant points of reflection for legal practitioners. The central issue concerns the effectiveness of res judicata in the case of cassation with referral and subsequent termination of the proceedings due to failure to resume. This topic is particularly important, especially for those dealing with civil disputes and claims.

The Context of the Ruling

The case under examination involves R. (F. S.) against P. (Attorney General's Office), with the Court of Appeal of Trento having previously ruled. The Court of Cassation highlighted that, in the event of an error in the application of the legal criterion for determining the "quantum" of the right, the merits ruling remains effective. This means that, despite the cassation of the merits judgment, the established right is not automatically annulled but may continue to produce effects.

In general. In the case of cassation with referral, due to the erroneous application of the legal criterion for determining the "quantum" of the right established by the contested judgment, and subsequent termination of the proceedings due to failure to resume, pursuant to Article 310, paragraph 2, of the Code of Civil Procedure, the merits ruling remains effective not only on the "an" of the right but also on the part of the "quantum" not affected by the annulment of the merits judgment. (In this instance, concerning an opposition to an injunction obtained from the Presidency of the Council of Ministers for the return of sums paid in execution of a judgment ordering compensation for damages due to the delayed implementation of EU directives regarding the remuneration of specialized doctors, pronounced in a case that was extinguished due to the failure to resume following the cassation with referral of such ruling, the Supreme Court recognized the res judicata in establishing the right within the quantitative limits of Article 11 of Law No. 370 of 1999, remaining after the cassation of the appellate ruling).

The Implications of the Ruling

This ruling highlights some fundamental aspects of civil law. In particular, it clarifies that res judicata is not entirely compromised by cassation but remains valid for the parts that are not annulled. This implies that, in the event of termination of the proceedings due to failure to resume, the creditor can still rely on the established part of the right.

  • Assessment of the unannulled "quantum": the ruling emphasizes that it is not necessary to resume the proceedings to utilize the res judicata that has already been established.
  • Protection of rights: the decision of the Court of Cassation ensures protection for already established rights, reducing uncertainty in legal relations.
  • Implications for creditors: creditors benefit from the ability to assert their rights without having to restart an entire process.

Conclusions

In conclusion, Order No. 10337 of 2024 provides an important clarification regarding the validity of res judicata in the context of a cassation with referral and subsequent termination of proceedings. The Court of Cassation has ensured certainty and stability of rights, confirming that res judicata remains effective even on issues related to "quantum." This ruling represents a step forward in protecting citizens' rights and simplifying legal procedures.

Bianucci Law Firm