Lawsuit Filed Against Berlusconi’s Family Over Ceasing Cash Payments to Bunga Bunga Party Attendees

An Italian model plans to take legal action against Silvio Berlusconi’s children, seeking €3 million in compensation. The children of the late billionaire businessman, who always claimed that the monthly cash payments and free housing provided to around 20 models and dancers were meant to compensate for the reputational damage they suffered after being involved in his sex scandals, recently decided to terminate the payments. Alessandra Sorcinelli, one of the women affected, has instructed lawyers to sue the heirs of Mr. Berlusconi. She argues that like the other women, she experienced irreparable damage to her image and therefore deserves financial assistance. Sorcinelli currently lives in a villa near Milan and claims that Berlusconi had promised her the property indefinitely. She stated that another model, Barbara Guerra, had a similar agreement. Sorcinelli and other women have endured “12 years of mud-slinging” since the bunga bunga scandals emerged in 2011. The scandals led to three criminal trials and contributed to Berlusconi’s resignation as prime minister. His lawyers argued that he provided money to the women as a generous gesture, while prosecutors portrayed him as a sultan who hired sex slaves for his entertainment. Berlusconi was acquitted in all three trials before his death in June.