74765 - Civil Law (A-C)

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide a comprehensive overview of civil law institutions, enriched with extensive case law and jurisprudence, with a focus on EU law and comparative law.

Course contents

The course aims to provide a systematic overview of civil liability, supplemented by the analysis of practical cases and developments in case law. Particular attention will be devoted to professional and healthcare liability, examined as a distinct subsystem of civil liability, also in light of the most recent legislative developments and current reform proposals.

Course Content

The first part of the course aims to provide students with a general framework of civil liability, beginning with the role of wrongful acts within the system of sources of obligations and subsequently examining the constituent elements of tortious liability, the criteria for attributing liability, and the principal forms of liability governed by the Italian Civil Code.

The second part will focus on professional liability and, in particular, healthcare liability. The analysis will consider the relevant legislative and judicial developments, with particular regard to the nature of the liability of healthcare facilities and healthcare professionals, the allocation of the burden of proof, the role of clinical guidelines, informed consent, causation, loss of chance, and the most recent issues arising in practice.

By the end of the course, students will have acquired a comprehensive understanding of the civil liability system and of the legal tools required to interpret the relevant rules and apply them to specific cases, including through a critical analysis of case law and “living law”.

Part I – The Civil Liability System

§ wrongful acts within the system of sources of obligations and the concept of civil liability;

§ the constituent elements of tortious liability;

§ the unlawfulness of the damage;

§ causation;

§ intent and negligence;

§ vicarious liability;

§ strict liability;

§ liability for the exercise of dangerous activities;

§ damage caused by things in one’s custody;

§ damage caused by animals;

§ the collapse of buildings;

§ liability arising from the circulation of motor vehicles;

§ tortious liability and contractual remedies.

Part II – Professional and Healthcare Liability

Healthcare liability as a distinct subsystem of civil liability, with particular reference to the following topics:

§ the classification of healthcare liability within the system of sources of obligations: Italian Court of Cassation, Civil Division, 22 January 1999, No. 589, and Italian Court of Cassation, Joint Divisions, 11 January 2008, No. 577;

§ the allocation of the burden of proof: from Italian Court of Cassation, Civil Division, 21 December 1978, No. 6141, to Law No. 24 of 8 March 2017;

§ the role of clinical guidelines in assessing the conduct of healthcare professionals and in regulating the relationships between healthcare facilities, healthcare professionals, and patients: Italian Court of Cassation, Third Civil Division, 11 December 2023, No. 34516, and Articles 5 and 7 of Law No. 24/2017;

§ healthcare liability and Article 2236 of the Italian Civil Code: Italian Constitutional Court, 28 November 1973, No. 166;

§ the patient as a consumer: Italian Court of Cassation, Civil Division, No. 27391/2014;

§ the patient’s right to self-determination: Italian Court of Cassation, Civil Division, 13 April 2007, No. 8826; Italian Court of Cassation, Civil Division, 9 February 2010, No. 2847; Italian Court of Cassation, Third Civil Division, 11 November 2019, No. 28985; Law No. 219 of 22 December 2017;

§ causation: Italian Court of Cassation, Civil Division, No. 13872/2020; Italian Court of Cassation, Civil Division, No. 8144/2022; Italian Court of Cassation, Civil Division, Nos. 28991 and 28992/2019;

§ loss of chance in healthcare liability: Italian Court of Cassation, Civil Division, No. 4400/2004; Italian Court of Cassation, Civil Division, No. 2384/2008; Italian Court of Cassation, Civil Division, No. 7485/2025;

§ clinical records: Italian Court of Cassation, Civil Division, 14 November 2019, No. 29502; Italian Court of Cassation, Civil Division, 14 November 2019, No. 29498; Italian Court of Cassation, Civil Division, 13 November 2019, No. 29331;

§ healthcare-associated infections: Italian Court of Cassation, Third Civil Division, 3 March 2023, No. 6386; Italian Court of Cassation, Third Civil Division, 25 June 2025, No. 17145;

§ litigation arising from the Covid-19 pandemic;

§ wrongful birth claims: Italian Court of Cassation, Joint Divisions, 22 December 2015, No. 25767;

§ vaccine-related harm and Law No. 210 of 25 February 1992;

§ recourse actions brought by healthcare facilities: Italian Court of Cassation, Civil Division, 11 November 2019, No. 28987;

§ the relationship between healthcare facilities and healthcare professionals and indemnity clauses: Italian Court of Cassation, Civil Division, Order of 17 April 2026, No. 9949;

§ the sustainability of the healthcare liability system and prospects for reform, including in light of Bill C. 2700, entitled “Delegation to the Government concerning healthcare professions and provisions on the professional liability of healthcare professionals”.

Students who have not yet passed the examination must prepare the syllabus applicable to their relevant academic year.

Readings/Bibliography

Per gli studenti frequentanti:

Prima parte:

M. Franzoni, La responsabilità civile. La causalità di fatto e l’ingiustizia del danno, Le Monnier Università, 2025, ISBN 9788800862967.

M. Franzoni, La responsabilità civile. La colpa e la responsabilità oggettiva, Le Monnier Università, 2024, ISBN 9788800862950.

M. Franzoni, La responsabilità civile. Il danno al patrimonio, Le Monnier Università, 2025, ISBN 9788800862974.

Seconda parte:

Sulla piattaforma «Virtuale» saranno messi a disposizione articoli pubblicati su riviste scientifiche e decisioni giudiziali destinati all’approfondimento degli argomenti trattati a lezione.

Gli studenti in debito d’esame sono tenuti a preparare il programma e i testi indicati per il proprio anno di corso.

Per gli studenti non frequentanti:

Prima parte:

M. Franzoni, La responsabilità civile. La causalità di fatto e l’ingiustizia del danno, Le Monnier Università, 2025, ISBN 9788800862967.

M. Franzoni, La responsabilità civile. La colpa e la responsabilità oggettiva, Le Monnier Università, 2024, ISBN 9788800862950.

M. Franzoni, La responsabilità civile. Il danno al patrimonio, Le Monnier Università, 2025, ISBN 9788800862974.

M. Franzoni, La responsabilità civile. Il danno alla persona, Le Monnier Università, 2026, ISBN 9788800862981.

Seconda parte:

- M. Franzoni, Dalla colpa grave alla responsabilità professionale, Giappichelli, ultima edizione

Sulla piattaforma «Virtuale» saranno messi a disposizione articoli pubblicati su riviste scientifiche e decisioni giudiziali da analizzare.

Per gli studenti che devono maturare 3 crediti:

Franzoni M ., Francesco Galgano - Maestro non conformista, Bologna University Press, Bologna, 2023.

Per gli studenti che devono maturare 5 crediti:

M. Franzoni, La responsabilità civile. La causalità di fatto e l’ingiustizia del danno, Le Monnier Università, 2025, ISBN 9788800862967.

Per gli studenti che devono maturare 7 crediti:

M. Franzoni, La responsabilità civile. La causalità di fatto e l’ingiustizia del danno, Le Monnier Università, 2025, ISBN 9788800862967

M. Franzoni, La responsabilità civile. La colpa e la responsabilità oggettiva, Le Monnier Università, 2024, ISBN 9788800862950.

Per gli studenti che devono maturare 10 crediti:

M. Franzoni, La responsabilità civile. La causalità di fatto e l’ingiustizia del danno, Le Monnier Università, 2025, ISBN 9788800862967

M. Franzoni, La responsabilità civile. La colpa e la responsabilità oggettiva, Le Monnier Università, 2024, ISBN 9788800862950.

M. Franzoni, La responsabilità civile. Il danno al patrimonio, Le Monnier Università, 2025, ISBN 9788800862974.

M. Franzoni, La responsabilità civile. Il danno alla persona, Le Monnier Università, 2026, ISBN 9788800862981.

Studenti del Curriculum italo-francese (CFU:10)

M. Franzoni, La responsabilità civile. La causalità di fatto e l’ingiustizia del danno, Le Monnier Università, 2025, ISBN 9788800862967

M. Franzoni, La responsabilità civile. La colpa e la responsabilità oggettiva, Le Monnier Università, 2024, ISBN 9788800862950.

M. Franzoni, La responsabilità civile. Il danno al patrimonio, Le Monnier Università, 2025, ISBN 9788800862974.

M. Franzoni, La responsabilità civile. Il danno alla persona, Le Monnier Università, 2026, ISBN 9788800862981.

Per gli studenti incoming che arrivano a Bologna nell’ambito dell’Erasmus o di altri programmi di mobilità internazionale:

M. Franzoni, La responsabilità civile. La causalità di fatto e l’ingiustizia del danno, Le Monnier Università, 2025, ISBN 9788800862967

M. Franzoni, La responsabilità civile. La colpa e la responsabilità oggettiva, Le Monnier Università, 2024, ISBN 9788800862950.

M. Franzoni, La responsabilità civile. Il danno al patrimonio, Le Monnier Università, 2025, ISBN 9788800862974.

M. Franzoni, La responsabilità civile. Il danno alla persona, Le Monnier Università, 2026, ISBN 9788800862981.

(c) M. FRANZONI, Dalla colpa grave alla responsabilità professionale, Giappichelli, ultima edizione (interamente)

Teaching methods

The course is taught throughout the academic year. Therefore, students who obtain their certificate of attendance during the current academic year may take the examination only from May onwards.

All classes will be held in person.

Assessment methods

The final examination will be conducted exclusively in oral form. Students will initially be asked a general question, followed by more specific questions concerning some of the main topics covered by the syllabus.

Final Grade Descriptors

Knowledge of only a very limited number of the topics covered during the course; analytical ability demonstrated only with the lecturer’s assistance; use of generally correct language: 18–19.

Knowledge of a limited number of the topics covered during the course; ability to conduct independent analysis only in relation to straightforward practical issues; use of correct language: 20–24.

Knowledge of a broad range of the topics covered during the course; ability to conduct independent critical analysis; good command of subject-specific terminology: 25–29.

Substantially comprehensive knowledge of the topics covered during the course; ability to conduct independent critical analysis and establish connections between different subjects; full command of subject-specific terminology; strong argumentation and critical self-reflection skills: 30–30 with honours (30L).

Attendance will be recorded through signature sheets and, where appropriate, by means of self-certification.

Non-attending students must prepare the syllabus specifically assigned to them.

Prerequisites

The examination may be taken only after students have passed the examinations in Constitutional Law and Private Law.

Teaching tools

The two main online resources for the course are:

1. The course syllabus;
2. The “Virtuale” online platform, where some of the teaching materials required for the examination will be made available.

Office hours

See the website of Giovanni Facci