The Tabelle Milanesi (Milan Tables) are a set of damages reference tables produced by the Milan Court of Appeal that Italian courts use to calculate non-economic damages — specifically danno biologico (biological damage) and danno morale (moral suffering) — in personal injury cases. Since a 2011 Supreme Court ruling, the Milan Tables are treated as the national standard.
The Milan Tables assign euro values based on % impairment (1–100%) × age. Younger claimants receive more. A personalisation uplift (up to ~50% of the base) applies for moral suffering and lifestyle impact. The tables are effectively binding since the 2011 Supreme Court endorsement.
Italian damages categories
| Category | Italian term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Biological damage | Danno biologico | Impairment of physical/psychological integrity, irrespective of earning impact |
| Moral suffering | Danno morale | Subjective pain and suffering — the emotional component |
| Existential damage | Danno esistenziale | Impact on daily life, relationships, hobbies — now generally subsumed into biologico |
| Patrimonial damage | Danno patrimoniale | Economic losses: medical costs, lost income — calculated separately |
How the tables work
The tables provide a matrix: rows represent percentage of permanent impairment (1% to 100%), columns represent the claimant's age at the date of injury. The intersection gives a base euro amount for danno biologico. The base amount includes a standard component for moral suffering.
Key principles:
- Higher impairment percentage → higher base amount (but with diminishing marginal increases)
- Younger claimant → higher amount (longer period of suffering)
- The personalisation uplift allows the court to increase the base by up to ~50% for case-specific aggravating factors
Representative values (approximate)
| Impairment % | Age 25 | Age 45 | Age 65 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5% | ~€13,000 | ~€11,000 | ~€9,000 |
| 10% | ~€30,000 | ~€26,000 | ~€21,000 |
| 25% | ~€120,000 | ~€100,000 | ~€80,000 |
| 50% | ~€350,000 | ~€300,000 | ~€240,000 |
| 100% | ~€1,100,000 | ~€950,000 | ~€750,000 |
Personalisation uplift
The base table amount is not final. Courts can apply a personalisation uplift for case-specific factors:
- Exceptional moral suffering beyond the norm for the impairment level
- Significant impact on hobbies, relationships, or daily activities
- Chronic pain disproportionate to the impairment percentage
- Disfigurement or scarring with psychological impact
Minor injuries (micropermanenti)
For minor permanent impairments (1–9%), a separate statutory framework applies under Art. 139 of the Codice delle Assicurazioni Private. This provides fixed per-point values that are lower than the Milan Table amounts and cannot be increased by personalisation beyond the statutory limits.
Comparison with other European systems
| Country | System | Binding? |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | Tabelle Milanesi — % impairment × age matrix | Effectively yes (since 2011 SCC ruling) |
| Spain | Baremo — points-based mandatory scale | Yes (traffic); reference (other) |
| UK | JCG — bracket ranges by injury type | Advisory (but highly persuasive) |
| Germany | Schmerzensgeldtabelle — case-law compilation | Persuasive (not statutory) |
| France | Nomenclature Dintilhac — heads of loss | No cap (full judicial discretion) |
Frequently asked questions
What are the Tabelle Milanesi?
Are the Milan Tables legally binding?
How do the Milan Tables work?
What is danno biologico?
Sources
- Corte di Cassazione, Sezioni Unite — Sentenza n. 12408/2011 (national endorsement of Milan Tables)
- Tribunale di Milano — current edition of the Tabelle
- Codice delle Assicurazioni Private, Art. 138–139
- Codice Civile, Art. 2043, 2059