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Italians Demand Compensation for Coronavirus Deaths

Jamie Dettmer

   Municipalities and hospitals in northern Italy are bracing for a slew
   of lawsuits from families ofcoronavirus victims demanding compensation
   for alleged treatment errors,negligenceand misinformation.

   Businesses disrupted by coronavirus lockdowns imposed by national and
   local governments are also mulling filing legal claims for alleged
   failures to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.

   Hundreds of relatives of coronavirus victims in Lombardy, the
   hardest-hit region in Italy and the country's economic powerhouse,blame
   what they say was an inadequate response by authorities to a pandemic
   thathaskilled nearly 30,000 people in the country.

   Lombardy's governor, Attilio Fontana, a member of the populist Northern
   LeagueParty, says the criticism of the handling of the virus is unfair
   and misdirected. He blames the national government in Rome for mistakes
   and for not locking down sooner.

   "They have accused me of everything, but I am at peace with my
   conscience,"hesaid recently.

   But familial anger is running deep and a clamor is growing for
   compensation and accountability-- especially from relatives who say
   their loved ones contracted COVID-19when they wereadmitted
   tothehospital for other reasons.

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