CTU – Consulente tecnico d’ufficio

The independent expert appointed by the judge to answer technical questions, such as the extent of an injury or the cause of a death.

Italian civil procedure relies heavily on court-appointed experts (Articles 61 and 191 and following of the Code of Civil Procedure). In personal injury cases the CTU is usually a forensic doctor, sometimes joined by a specialist; in medical liability, Article 15 of Law No 24/2017 requires a panel of a forensic doctor and a specialist in the relevant field.

The CTU’s report is not binding, but it often decides the outcome. Each party can appoint its own expert (CTP) to take part in the examinations and submit observations. Preparing for the CTU, with the right documents and a well-chosen party expert, is one of the most important phases of an Italian claim.

In English: Court-appointed expert

Procedure

Related terms

Sources

Code of Civil Procedure, Royal Decree No 1443 of 28 October 1940 (Normattiva, 1940)
Law No 24 of 8 March 2017 (Gelli-Bianco Law) on patient safety and the liability of healthcare professionals (Normattiva, 2017)

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A note. Glossary entries provide general information and are not a substitute for advice on a specific case.

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