The city of Genoa will pursue a major civil lawsuit for property and image damages following the collapse of the Morandi Bridge, with any recovered funds dedicated entirely to urban upkeep and infrastructure safety, according to Mayor Silvia Salis. Speaking during the city’s eighth annual commemoration of the disaster, Mayor Salis stated that the municipality intends to hold responsible parties accountable while working to overcome the long-term disruptions that still impact the region.
The announcement follows the conclusion of the first-degree criminal trial regarding the tragedy, marking a significant turning point for the local administration and the families of the victims. According to reports from regional media outlets including Genova24 and GenovaToday, the municipal administration is preparing legal actions aimed at recovering financial compensation for the deep structural and reputational harm inflicted on the city.
Pursuing Compensation for City-Wide Damages
Mayor Salis emphasized that the ongoing logistical challenges, including persistent roadworks and infrastructure bottlenecks across Liguria, represent the lasting footprint of the viaduct collapse. According to Genova24, unofficial estimates place the potential municipal claim at approximately 100 million euros, excluding separate legal actions. The civil claims are being coordinated through municipal legal representation, specifically involving attorney Alessandra Mereu, who assists the city in navigating the complex web of liabilities tied to the disaster.
The legal strategy targets both individual defendants in the initial criminal proceedings and corporate entities linked to the management of the infrastructure. The first-degree criminal verdict involved 35 individuals, including managers and high-ranking executives from Aspi, Spea, and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (Mit), such as former Autostrade per l’Italia CEO Giovanni Castellucci, as reported by Genova24. While Aspi and Spea previously settled administrative liabilities under legislative decree 231 through early financial agreements with local entities, municipal officials maintain that these settlements do not extinguish broader civil liabilities for ongoing regional damages.
A Turning Point in the Search for Accountability
The commemoration ceremony carried distinct legal and emotional weight as the first formal gathering since the delivery of the initial criminal court verdict. Mayor Salis noted that the ruling established that the tragedy was not an unforeseeable natural event, but the result of omissions and negligence, according to coverage by GenovaToday.
During her address, the mayor stressed that while no financial award or legal judgment can equate to the personal grief experienced by the victims’ families, the municipality has a duty to pursue justice for the broader community. Any funds secured through the civil litigation will be dedicated to a program of care, maintenance, decorum, and safety for the city.
Educational Memorials and Future Safeguards
Alongside the legal initiatives, the city continues to emphasize the educational role of local memorial sites, including the Polcevera memorial area. Mayor Salis indicated that these spaces serve as a permanent reminder for younger generations to demand institutional responsibility, rigorous planning, and uncompromising safety standards in public infrastructure management.
As legal teams prepare for subsequent phases of the judicial process, the municipality remains open to preliminary negotiations alongside formal court proceedings, prioritizing a resolution that reflects the true extent of the infrastructure deficit left in the wake of the disaster.
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