Overview
- The Corte d’Appello di Bologna concluded that the brief interval between the spill and the fall did not make the incident unforeseeable, stating staff should have acted within a minute.
- Judges found the establishment knew about the slippery spot yet failed to warn customers, cordon off the area, or clean the floor immediately.
- The award on appeal rose from just over €5,000 to about €15,000, which includes damages and legal costs.
- The court recognized moral damages for a permanent facial scar, noting the particular impact on a young victim.
- The decision, issued by a panel led by President Giuliano with Iovino and Capano, closes the civil case and clarifies operators’ duty for rapid hazard mitigation in hospitality settings.