Legal desk award to Attilio Bolzoni sued after the scoop over an industrialist

Questo articolo è disponibile anche in:

The journalist: Since 2015 I have been hit by a barrage of lawsuits and I have had  to defend myself at my own expense without the support of newspapers

The Legal Desk of Ossigeno (see here)  which works in collaboration with Media Defence, providing free legal aid to journalists in difficulty because they have been hit by vexatious legal actions in relation to their work, has granted a financial contribution to cover the legal costs incurred by the journalist Attilio Bolzoni.  In this text, written for Ossigeno, the journalist tells his story which is similar to that of many Italian journalists who are the target of frivolous complaints, SLAPPs and other retaliations for having revealed troublesome  facts.

OSSIGENO October 15^th 2024 – By Attilio Bolzoni  – For almost ten years, for having done only my job – that is, having published factual news stories about people who are under judicial investigation or have already been convicted in criminal proceedings – I have been bombarded with lawsuits and forced to defend myself at my own expense in various Italian courtrooms.

I should point out that for some articles, first published in La Repubblica and then in Il Domani, I received complete legal support. And I should explain right away that the situation is rather complicated.

For those articles (the first dates back to February 2015) I was the object of particular attention. I was spied on by the businessman and former vice president of the industrial employers’ organisation (Confindustria)  Calogero Montante and by some police officers acting on his behalf. All of whom have been accused of criminal association and unauthorized access to computer archives.

And so I found myself a civil party in a trial that began in 2017 and which will end with a ruling by the Italian Supreme Court on October 30^th  2024. In this trial I had to pay considerable expenses to be represented in court, as in two other proceedings – one in Caltanissetta and the other in Milan. The former was always as an injured party and the latter for a civil summons (also dismissed) for an interview I gave to colleagues at the investigative TV programme, Report.

The reaction to my articles was a whirlwind of lawsuits against me of which all but one were dismissed. A final lawsuit was filed against me at the Rome public prosecutor’s office, again by Calogero Montante, for my statements and writings. It is a montage of accusations.

He accuses me of: some sentences that I uttered as a witness heard by the Parliamentary Anti-Mafia Commission; other sentences reported in my articles in La Repubblica, others reported by Il Domani, and others taken from my book The Godfather of Anti-Mafia.

I had to defend myself, without the assistance of the newspapers for which I have written or write. Despite a request for dismissal already made by the public prosecutor, and after this request being challenged by the plaintiff, I will, on November 7^th  2024 have to appear before a preliminary investigations judge. Hence another lawsuit and a lot more money to defend myself.

This is why I am very grateful to Ossigeno per l’Informazione its contribution  to partially cover one of the many legal expenses that I am incurring for my articles on the “Montante case”. This is undoubtedly a very tangible gesture of solidarity and support for journalists who want to continue to do their job in the best circumstances. A support that has been and may be useful in the future to many other colleagues.