Rome – The Supreme Court of Cassation marks a turning point in the rights of the families of asbestos victims: two Neapolitan orphans of an Air Force marshal who died of mesothelioma will receive social security benefits despite not being financially dependent on their father.
The ruling, notified two days ago, overturns the Ministry of Defense's interpretation and opens the way to reimbursements of approximately 300 euros.
The case of the marshal exposed for 38 years
The First Marshal of the Italian Air Force, who served for over 38 years at bases such as Capodichino (Naples), Pratica di Mare (Rome), Gioia del Colle (Bari) and Grazzanise (Caserta), was exposed to asbestos daily during aircraft maintenance.
He died in 2015 from mesothelioma, a disease linked to killer fibers, leaving behind a wife and two children, MM and MM, both living in Naples.
Only in 2021 did the Air Force recognize the soldier as a "victim of duty," paying benefits to his widow, who died in 2023 after years of suffering. However, the Ministry of Defense denied the benefits to his children, considering them not "survivors" due to their lack of fiscal dependence on their parent at the time of death.
The legal battle and the principle of the Supreme Court
The two orphans challenged the decision with a two-pronged lawsuit: compensation for damages to their father and bereavement, plus access to social security benefits. The Supreme Court of Cassation ruled in full favor, establishing that the benefits are also available to non-dependent children. This principle of law will impact similar cases, thanks to the efforts of attorney Ezio Bonanni, president of the National Observatory on Asbestos.
"This ruling expands the protection of family members, including orphans who are not fiscally dependent," Bonanni explains. "The case will return to the Naples Court of Appeal, which will also determine the arrears from 2015: approximately €150 for each child, for a total of €300."
Impact on the Air Force and waiting families
The ruling not only reopens legal proceedings, but also brings asbestos exposure in the Air Force back into focus, a matter long overlooked despite the long latency period for asbestos-related diseases. It affects hundreds of families still fighting for recognition and justice.
In short
Rome – The Supreme Court of Cassation marks a turning point in the rights of asbestos victims' families: two Neapolitan orphans of an Air Force marshal who died of mesothelioma will receive social security benefits despite…
- The ruling, notified two days ago, overturns the Ministry of Defense's interpretation and opens the way to reimbursements for approximately…
- The case of the Marshal exposed for 38 years The first Marshal of the Italian Air Force, serving for over 38 years in…
- He died in 2015 from mesothelioma, a disease linked to killer fibers, leaving behind a wife and two children, MM
Key questions
What is the main point of the news?
Rome – The Supreme Court of Cassation marks a turning point in the rights of the families of asbestos victims: two Neapolitan orphans of an Air Force marshal who died of mesothelioma will obtain…
Why is this news relevant?
The ruling, notified two days ago, overturns the Ministry of Defense's interpretation and opens the way to reimbursements for approximately…
Which detail helps us understand the case better?
The case of the Marshal exposed for 38 years The first Marshal of the Italian Air Force, who served for over 38 years at bases such as Capodichino (Naples),…
I believe the ruling is important, but many doubts and uncertainties remain; the children and other family members should not receive justice, but the procedure appears to be lengthy and involves too many bureaucratic steps, missing documents, and the timeframe is unclear. We hope the reimbursements will be recalculated quickly.