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BGE 17 I 163 ΓÇó Federal appeal dismissed in insult compensation case
BGE 17 I 163Amtliche Sammlung des Bundesgerichts (BGE) / Band I17.01.1891Dismissed
Elise Köhler appealed to the Federal Supreme Court against a Bern police chamber judgment that had convicted Karl Lichtenberger of insult, imposed a CHF 10 fine, and awarded Köhler CHF 50 compensation plus costs. Köhler did not appear; Lichtenberger sought acquittal. The Court held it lacked competence over the criminal aspect and could only review the civil compensation claim, which exceeded the value threshold. On the merits, it found Lichtenberger’s conduct unlawfully infringed Köhler’s personality rights, but no economic loss was shown and the moral harm was adequately compensated by the amount awarded. The appeal was dismissed and the cantonal judgment confirmed in full.
Civil appeal limited by competence; criminal part not reviewable by the Federal Supreme Court, while the compensation claim is reviewable only if the statutory value threshold is met and federal law governs it. In actions for insult-related compensation, unlawful conduct that publicly exposes a person as a bad-faith debtor and thereby infringes personality interests may justify damages for moral harm even absent economic loss. The amount of satisfaction is to be upheld if it is not based on an incorrect application of law and is adequate in light of the defendant’s overall culpability and the absence of proven patrimonial damage (consid. 1-2).
365 und 368 St. V. polizeilich verurtheilt: 1. zu 10 Fr. Buße: 2. zu 50 Fr. Entschädigung, a Fr. erstinstanzliche und 20 Fr. Rekurskosten an Elise Köhler Balli; zu den Kosten des Staates, bestimmt: a. die erstinstanzlichen auf 16 Fr. 20 Cts.; b. die Rekurskosten des Richteramtes Bern auf 5 Fr.; c. die oberge richtlichen auf 22 Fr. B. Gegen dieses Urtheil ergriff die Klägerin die Weiterziehung an das Bundesgericht. Bei der heutigen Verhandlung ist dieselbe weder persönlich erschienen noch vertreten. Dagegen erscheint der Beklagte persönlich. Derselbe erklärt auf Befragen, er habe das Gefühl, daß er hätte freigesprochen werden sollen, was er wünsche und beantrage. Das Bundesgericht zieht in Erwägung: