Legal aid denied because property could cover debt

JK 99 182/JK 99 183Altro tribunale20 giu 1999Dismissed

Estratto da Omnilex

Sintesi Omnilex

The court refused state-funded legal assistance. It held that the parties own a sellable property in Apulia with an estimated value of CHF 60,000, while the remaining debt is only about CHF 20,000. Because this asset is clearly realizable and more than sufficient to cover the debt, it would not be appropriate to further reduce the debt burden and finance the proceedings at public expense.

Massima Omnilex

Realizable assets must be taken into account when assessing indigence; if a party owns property that can be sold without unreasonable hardship and whose value clearly covers the relevant debt or litigation exposure, legal aid is to be refused. A litigant may not preserve readily realizable wealth and simultaneously shift the costs of proceedings to the state, especially where the asset would likely generate additional savings at public expense.

Testo completo

Die Parteien haben mit ihrer Liegenschaft in Apulien einen realisierbaren Vermögenswert. Sie beabsichtigen, die Liegenschaft zu verkaufen. Die darauf lastende Restschuld von ca. Fr. 20000.- ist durch den geschätzten Verkehrswert von Fr. 60000.- bei weitem gedeckt. Es geht folglich nicht an, die Restschuld weiter zu reduzieren und vom Staat gleichzeitig die Prozessfinanzierung zu verlangen. Wirtschaftlich gesehen könnten die Parteien dadurch weiteres Sparvermögen auf Kosten des Staates äufnen.

Parole chiave

legal aidindigencerealizable assetsforeign propertyasset liquidation

Estratto da Omnilex

Questioni giuridiche chiave estratte da Omnilex

Questione giuridica chiave

Whether legal aid should be granted despite a realizable asset held abroad.

Decisione estratta

No. The parties have a realizable asset that can cover the remaining debt, so state-funded litigation financing is not justified.

Motivazione estratta

The property in Apulia has an estimated value of about CHF 60,000 and the remaining debt is only about CHF 20,000. Since the debt is amply covered and the property is to be sold, reducing the debt further while shifting litigation costs to the state would be economically unjustified.

Legal aid denied because property could cover debtGenerato dall'IA

Sintesi Omnilex Generato dall'IA