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  "path": "/news/italy-to-act-as-civil-party-in-swiss-new-year-bar-fire-case.html",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-30T02:39:00.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.wantedinrome.com",
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  "textContent": "Italy joins Swiss legal proceedings as civil party in Crans-Montana fire case.\nItaly has joined the Swiss criminal proceedings relating to the fatal fire at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort, registering as a plaintiff in a move directed by prime minister Giorgia Meloni.\n\nThe fire broke out on New Year's Eve at Le Constellation, killing 41 people - including six Italians - and injuring dozens, among them Italian tourists.\n\nThe filing was deposited at the offices of the Sion public prosecutor by Geneva lawyer Romain Jordan, who also represents many of the families affected by the tragedy, acting in coordination with the Italian state legal service.\n\nReimbursement\n \n\nThe move comes days after Italy rejected Swiss demands for reimbursement of 100,000 Swiss francs (around €108,000), representing medical costs incurred by a hospital in Sion for the brief hospitalisation of three Italian youths injured in the blaze.\n\nAccording to a statement from Palazzo Chigi, the decision was motivated by the direct damage caused to state resources as a result of the substantial deployment of the national civil protection service to provide medical, psychological and logistical assistance to Italian nationals involved in the disaster.\n\nThe civil party submission sets out the view that local authorities' involvement in the circumstances giving rise to the event is considered highly plausible, and on that basis makes a firm claim for redress against all parties deemed civilly liable.\n\nInvestigation\nThe Swiss investigation names 11 suspects, including municipal officials and administrators as well as Crans-Montana's mayor, Nicolas Féraud.\n\nThe owners of Le Constellation, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, are also under investigation. All face potential charges of arson, grievous bodily harm and negligent homicide.\n\nOn the same day that Italy lodged its civil party submission, Swiss investigators announced the opening of a new, separate line of enquiry into the organisation of the emergency response to the fire and possible failures in the management of the immediate aftermath.\n\nThis broadening of the investigation had been called for since February by lawyers representing the family of Sofia Donadio, an Italian woman seriously injured in the blaze.\n\nHer parents, who arrived at the scene shortly after the fire broke out, reported finding only two ambulances present, an acute shortage of oxygen cylinders and a lack of thermal blankets - despite freezing temperatures.\n\nItaly's civil party filing arrives days ahead of a scheduled meeting in Rome between Italian president Sergio Mattarella and Swiss Confederation president Guy Parmelin on 5 May.\n\nPhoto credit: Heying HUA / Shutterstock.com",
  "title": "Italy to act as civil party in Swiss New Year bar fire case"
}