Judgment No. 15804 of 2024: The Importance of Motivation in Technical Consultation

The recent judgment No. 15804 of June 6, 2024, issued by the Court of Cassation, provides important insights regarding the role of technical consultation and the judge's obligations of motivation. In particular, this ruling focuses on the judge's duty to adequately justify their decisions when adhering to the conclusions of the court-appointed technical expert (CTU).

The Context of the Judgment

The dispute in question concerned the provisional expropriation compensation and the evaluation carried out by the technical consultant. The Court emphasized that, although the judge may adhere to the conclusions of the CTU, they must still provide a clear and detailed justification, especially when the criticisms raised by the party's consultants are specific and precise.

OFFICIAL RESULTS of the consultation - Specific criticisms raised by party consultants and defenders - Judge's adherence to the CTU - Justification - Necessity - Omission - Consequences - Case law. In general, the trial judge who adheres to the conclusions of the technical consultant fulfills the obligation of motivation by indicating the sources of their conviction, without necessarily having to dwell on the opposing allegations of the party's technical consultants that, although not expressly refuted, remain implicitly disregarded because they are incompatible. However, if the criticisms of the expert report are not only precise and specific but also highlight a total absence of justifications for the conclusions of the report, the judgment that fails to justify its uncritical adherence to the aforementioned conclusions is deemed null and void. (In this case, the consultation ordered regarding the determination of the provisional expropriation compensation had been subject to an initial draft and a subsequent unjustified reconsideration by the court-appointed consultant, despite the specific challenges from the parties and their consultants).

The Consequences of Lack of Justification

The Court clarified that uncritical adherence to the conclusions of the consultation without adequate justification can result in the nullity of the judgment. This principle is based on regulations such as Article 194 and Article 360 of the Code of Civil Procedure, which establish the importance of justification in judicial decisions. The lack of justification can, in fact, undermine the credibility and legitimacy of the decision itself.

  • Obligation of justification: The judge must explain the reasons for the choice made.
  • Specific criticisms: The challenges from the party's consultants must be examined carefully.
  • Nullity of the judgment: The absence of justification can lead to the annulment of the decision.

Conclusions

Judgment No. 15804 of 2024 represents an important reminder of the significance of justification in judges' decisions, especially when it comes to technical consultations. Legal professionals must pay attention to this aspect, as insufficient justification can compromise not only the decision-making process but also trust in the legal system itself. It is therefore essential that judges are aware of their responsibilities and the impact that their decisions can have, not only in individual cases but also on the legal system as a whole.

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