Italian Ministry of Defence ordered to compensate Navy veteran's son

The TAR Sicilia (Catania section) has issued a final ruling ordering the Italian Ministry of Defence to compensate the son of Domenico Giovanniello, a former Navy official, following his death from mesothelioma.

Giovanniello, who served in the Navy for nearly 30 years as a naval motor petty officer and later as a marshal, was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma on February 18, 2013. He passed away just 26 days later. The court recognized a direct link between the disease and his military service, noting that he worked in environments containing asbestos.

The judge ruled that the Ministry failed to implement adequate protective measures, constituting a negligent violation of worker protection obligations. The court awarded Giovanniello’s son, Giovanni Giovanniello, 70,192.50 euros plus interest and revaluation. This amount covers terminal biological and moral damages, specifically addressing the suffering experienced by the deceased during the brief period between diagnosis and death.