Psychotherapist Claudio Foti Files Lawsuit over Defamation Claims

"Being morally associated with the suicides of investigated and accused people was terrible. As a psychologist, I can say that accusations of this kind can lead people to extreme actions because they deeply touch humanity, dignity, our moral sense." This is what psychotherapist Claudio Foti declares in commenting on the civil lawsuit he initiated in court in Turin, with the assistance of lawyer Luca Bauccio, against Selvaggia Lucarelli. Giovanna Pedretti, the reviews of the pizzeria and the other responses from the owner: 'Go elsewhere, this is not the place for you.' Foti felt defamed by a series of articles in which he was mentioned for news events - marked by the suicides of those involved - that occurred in Sagliano Micca (Biella), Modena and Cagliari. "After reading them," he says, "I was incredulous. In some cases, I didn't even know the victims. In others, I was only the consultant of the public prosecutor. That was enough. And so, after my involvement in the Bibbiano investigation, the opportunity was the right one to strike and hurt me. I lived as a disreputable person until my acquittal on June 6. I held on thanks to my profession as a psychologist, but I wonder what another person in my place would have done." "We should care," concludes the psychotherapist, "about the respect and life of people before launching such devastating accusations." The compensation request The request against Lucarelli is for compensation of 320,000 euros, to which are added the sums requested from the newspapers for a total of 460,000 euros. "Before writing certain things," comments Bauccio, "you should think about it. And maybe know more deeply the processes you want to deal with. Articles like these incite hatred, social pillories, uncivil behaviors, and end up destroying other people's lives." In the Turin proceedings, Lucarelli is assisted by lawyer Caterina Malavenda.