An important victory for Polis Avvocati: the Court of Appeal of Caltanissetta sentences Massimo Ciancimino for slander
Polis Avvocati, with lawyers Michele Laforgia and Fabio Di Cagno, obtained an important ruling from the Court of Appeal of Caltanissetta, which ordered Massimo Ciancimino to pay compensation of 120,000 euros for aggravated slander against former SISDE executive Lorenzo Narracci. The sentence, which is immediately enforceable, also provides for the publication of the ruling in three national newspapers, to protect the reputation and dignity of Dr Narracci, whose integrity had been compromised.
The case
The story dates back to 2010, when Massimo Ciancimino, son of the former mayor of Palermo Vito Ciancimino, accused Lorenzo Narracci, then director of SISDE, of having acted as an intermediary between his father, the boss Bernardo Provenzano, and institutional circles. These very serious statements led to an investigation against Narracci for collusion in the Mafia massacres of Capaci and Via D’Amelio, which was later dismissed due to the former executive’s complete lack of involvement in the alleged events.
Not only was Ciancimino unable to recognise Narracci, but his accusations were disproved and found to be fabricated. He was subsequently convicted of slander in criminal court, but the statute of limitations applied and the case was dismissed on appeal.
The case was therefore brought before the civil courts to obtain fair compensation for the damage suffered by Narracci.
The decision of the Court of Appeal
The Court reiterated the falsity of Ciancimino’s statements, highlighting that these were aimed at conferring judicial credibility and media emphasis on his account, discrediting Narracci. This malicious intent was judged to be particularly intense, aggravated by the notoriety of Ciancimino himself, a figure already in the spotlight due to his father’s central role in the connections between the mafia and politics.
The media coverage of the accusations, which were emphasised even before being examined by the judicial authorities, caused very serious moral damage and damage to the image of Narracci, a man who has served the State faithfully. This case highlights a recurring phenomenon in the Italian judicial system: unfounded accusations, if amplified by the media, can compromise an individual’s life and career, while subsequent acquittals or convictions for slander receive very little attention.
Justice has been done, but at a high price
«This sentence helps to shed light on events that have marked the history of the country and confirms that the accusations against Lorenzo Narracci, a man who has always served republican institutions with loyalty, dedication and honour, were nothing but slander», state the lawyers Fabio Di Cagno and Michele Laforgia.
«This is a sentence that puts an end to a long and painful period of unjust accusations, condemning in a civil court those who falsely formulated them. Of course, no amount of money can repair the wrong suffered by those who had to endure years of insinuations and allegations of this gravity, but today we can say that justice has been done».
This case demonstrates once again how fundamental it is to rigorously verify accusations before they can be transformed into media convictions. In Narracci’s case, the truth emerged after almost 15 years, but the price paid in terms of personal and professional damage is incalculable.
In the press:
Legal Community: Ex dirigente Sisde, difeso da Polis Avvocati, sarà risarcito dopo gravi calunnie
Diritto&Affari: Polis Avvocati ottiene condanna di Ciancimino a risarcire i danni a ex Dirigente SISDE per calunnia
Global Legal Chronicle Italia: La Corte d’Appello di Caltanissetta condanna Ciancimino al risarcimento dei danni per calunnia contro un ex Dirigente SISDE