An American Victory in an Italian Court

A nine-year international court battle has ended in victory for a Pennsylvania woman and her disabled son against the boy's country-hopping father, a citizen of Italy. The Corte d'Appello di Roma, an Italian civil court in Rome, instructed the father to honor a child support order issued by the State of Pennsylvania in April 1998, thanks to an Italian attorney's persistence. Marcello Bergonzi Perrone of Voghera, Italy, a silent hero, donated his time to the case and persevered in the Italian court system on behalf of a child who needed him.

Because neither Pennsylvania nor the United States has a reciprocity agreement with Italy, it took an extremely long time to obtain a decision. Contributing to the delay was the father's evasiveness by moving from Italy, to England, to the Philippines, back to England, and ending in his home country of Italy. Currently, families in such situations have little recourse, and most states will not issue orders if the absent parent lives abroad. Neither the United Nations nor the Hague Convention has provided relief to these families, although both organizations have discussed the issue. You have to wonder why something so necessary has to be discussed. What could they have to work out? A child needs support, it is that simple.

Adding to the pressure are the severe health problems of the child. He has been unable to attend school for the last two years, thus preventing his mother from working. The father has not been in touch with them since 2001, which is also when the child received his last support check. That did not stop Attorney Bergonzi Perrone from securing justice, though. Even when things seemed hopeless, he had confidence that they would prevail. His strength and beliefs never waived during the nine years of battles.

When asked about the victory, the humble attorney said, "We've won. Now the next step is to get the money." Although he is a software engineer and once owned his own business, the father's testimony to the Italian court stated that he is unemployed. His attorneys claim that he receives free room and board in exchange for working as a handyman in an apartment building managed by his female companion.

The Roman Court did not buy the story and handed down the sentence on a date close to the nine-year anniversary of the initial April 02 order. The father may appeal to Italy's Supreme Court. The process would take another two years. For someone with no income, one has to wonder how he would afford to pay the attorneys. It is highly doubtful that they work free as Attorney Bergonzi Perrone has done.

In the mean time, Attorney Bergonzi Perrone plans to act upon collecting the money right away. The several American built motorcycles the father owns cannot be secured since there are government liens on them for taxes. Working with a lawyer in Rome, Attorney Bergonzi Perrone will obtain the money by asserting various Italian laws for child support. In his usual optimism, he has confidence that the money will be collected. He adds, "The path of the Lord is difficult to know," but when you consider his faith, you get the feeling that everything will work out.

Over nine years, this man has provided free representation to a child who had no other options. The only fees assessed to the family were court costs, which were minimal. The world needs more people like Marcello Bergonzi Perrone. This man is truly a champion for children. Perhaps Italy, and the USA, should honor him with a humanitarian award. He certainly deserves it!

Avvocato Bergonzi Perrone: On behalf of the world- Mille Grazie!