The Court of Justice of Santa Catarina (TJ-SC) decided, this Thursday (30), to sentence businessman Luciano Hang, owner of the Havan department store chain, to pay an additional R$33,000 to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) for statements considered offensive.
The episodes occurred between 2019 and 2020, when Hang made publications and public demonstrations with phrases that, according to the court, tarnished Lula’s image.
Luciano Hang has not yet publicly commented on the TJ-SC decision.
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The action was filed by lawyers Ângelo Ferraro and Miguel Novaes who argued that the businessman’s demonstrations exceeded the limits of freedom of expression, amounting to personal attacks on the president.
Despite this, in 2023, in the first instance, the Court considered the request for compensation for moral damages made by the president’s defense to be unfounded, understanding that, as he is a public figure, Lula is subject to criticism.
“Conviviality with denunciations, accusations and harsh criticism is inherent to public life”, highlighted the court at the time. In the new decision, the court stated that “even public figures have the right to the protection of their honor and image”. Luciano Hang can still appeal.
