Morandi Bridge collapse sentencing underscores corporate negligence in Italy

Eight years after the August 14, 2018 collapse of Genoa's Morandi Bridge that killed 43 people, an Italian court delivered its final verdict. The trial, which began in July 2026, featured 284 hearings, over 12 TB of data and 57 defendants. The highest sentence – 18 years and six months – was sought for Giovanni Castellucci, former chief executive of Autostrade per l’Italia, who has denied guilt.

The court found that Autostrade and related officials had dramatically cut maintenance spending, reducing daily upkeep costs from about €3,665 to €71, a 98% reduction, to boost shareholder dividends. Autostrade per l’Italia subsequently issued a public apology, acknowledging the actions of some executives had caused lasting harms. The ruling also addressed false safety reports on viaducts, sound barriers, and tunnel security, consolidating multiple investigative strands into a single proceeding.

The decision marks a landmark moment in Italy’s handling of infrastructure negligence, holding senior corporate leaders legally accountable for the tragedy.