Judgment No. 16617 of 14/06/2024: Legitimacy of the Incorporating Company in the Supreme Court Proceedings

The judgment No. 16617 of June 14, 2024, of the Supreme Court addresses a topic of great relevance in the context of civil law: the legitimacy of the incorporating company to intervene in a cassation proceeding in the event of the extinction of the appealing company due to merger. This ruling not only clarifies procedural aspects but also provides insights into the respect for the adversarial principle, a fundamental principle of our legal system.

The Context of the Judgment

In this specific case, the Court examined the appeal submitted by the company F. (G. G.) against P. (C. G.), with particular attention to the legitimacy of the incorporating company to continue the litigation in place of the extinct company. It is important to emphasize that, for proceedings initiated until December 31, 2022, the incorporating company must notify the other parties of its intervention to ensure respect for the adversarial principle.

Summary of the Judgment

(POWERS OF THE JUDGE) - AD PROCESSUM In general. If during the cassation proceedings the appealing company is extinguished due to a merger by incorporation, the incorporating company may intervene in the procedure with an act that, for proceedings initiated until December 31, 2022, must be notified to the other parties to ensure respect for the adversarial principle, as merely filing the act with the court registry is not sufficient for this purpose; however, the nullity resulting from the omission of the said notification is remedied if the constituted counterparts accept the adversarial principle without raising objections, while, if not remedied, it does not affect the further course of the legitimacy judgment, which is governed by official impetus.

Implications of the Judgment

The ruling offers several points for reflection:

  • Respect for the Adversarial Principle: The necessity to notify the intervention appeal underscores the importance of the adversarial principle, which must be guaranteed at every stage of the process.
  • Sanation of Nullities: The possibility of remedying the nullity resulting from the omission of notification, if the counterparts accept the adversarial principle, is an element that offers greater flexibility in civil proceedings.
  • Cassation Procedure: The Court clarifies that the absence of remedy does not affect the further course of the legitimacy judgment, highlighting official impetus as a fundamental principle.

Conclusions

Judgment No. 16617 of 2024 represents an important step forward in defining legitimacy in the case of merger by incorporation in the context of cassation proceedings. It reinforces the principle of the adversarial process and clarifies the procedural dynamics that may be useful for legal practitioners. It is essential that companies and legal professionals are aware of these provisions to avoid issues and ensure proper management of disputes.

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