words by Elizabeth Ganley-Roper
In Spoleto, an Italian man is suing the lover of his wife of 18 years for €600,000 in physiological damages. This is the first time in Italy such an attempt has been made and the case, if won, would make Italian legal history.
The husband, a 45-year old military officer whose identity has remained concealed, began the case by hiring a private detective to follow his wife after he noticed suspicious behaviour.
The accused lover, a 39-year old insurance broker from Perugia, claims he has never had an affair with the woman and that they are simply good friends.
On account of the affair, the husband claims his wife developed “obsessive behaviour that led her to ruin the life of the family and to avoid her conjugal obligations”. In addition, he claims it caused him to become depressed and will present a medical certificate in court.
He has asked for €200,00 for himself and €200,000 each for his 14-year old daughter and 10-year old son.
The lawyer of the alleged lover, Marco Brusco, stated: “Adultery may once have been a crime in this country, but that is no longer the case. There is no law that says a man cannot go to bed with the wife of another man”.
The case is to be heard in court in May.
