Domenico Caliendo, Monaldi and family reach agreement on compensation

There is an agreement between the Monaldi hospital in Naples and the little boy's family Domenico Caliendo, the two-year-old boy who died last February 21 after a failed heart transplant.
The agreement on compensation, announced by the lawyer Francesco Petruzzi, the lawyer of the Caliendo-Mercolino family, will be signed in September.

The compensation agreement

The amount remains covered by a confidentiality agreement. According to the Milan court's tables, however, the sum stands at just under one and a half million euros, compared to the three million initially requested.

The beneficiaries are six: Domenico's parents, siblings, and two grandparents.

"We are completely satisfied, and so is mum Patrizia“, Petruzzi declared, "Monaldi awarded us compensation and spared us a civil trial that would have added further pain to the family. Now we can focus on the criminal proceedings."

The family's choice

The parents' priority was to resolve the civil dispute before the criminal trial. The family will join the proceedings as a civil party.

The figure, as I have always said, did not interest me, he explained Patricia Mercolino, Domenico's mother, the only important thing was to get to the criminal trial without the burden of the civil proceedings.

The location of the hospital

The Colli Hospital clarifies that the signing of the agreement does not constitute an admission of liability, but rather an assessment of the procedural risk. The hospital also reserves the right to take legal action against any responsible parties found in the criminal proceedings.

The failed transplant and the investigation

Domenico had undergone the transplant on December 23rd. The heart came from a child from Bolzano and was apparently damaged during transport: the box was inadequate, with insufficient ice and dry ice that would have burned the organ.

The Naples Prosecutor's Office is investigating seven professionals for conspiracy to commit manslaughter. Among them is the surgeon. Guido Oppido, suspended for 12 months, and the vice Emma Bergonzoni, suspended for 7 months for material and ideological forgery.

FAQ

How much will the Caliendo family receive?

The sum is confidential. According to the Milan court's tables, the estimate is just under one and a half million euros.

Why is the family giving up on the civil lawsuit?

To focus on the criminal proceedings, where you will join the civil action. The civil dispute ends with an out-of-court settlement.

What happened to Domenico?

The child died on February 21st at the Monaldi Hospital in Naples after a failed heart transplant performed on December 23rd. The organ, which arrived from Bolzano, was reportedly damaged during transport. For the city's hospitals, departments, and services, you can consult our guide to Naples hospitals.