ABSTRACT
In 2012, seven members of the High-Risk Prevention Commission in Italy, were sentenced to six years in prison for failing to meet their obligations to adequately analyze seismic risk and provide clear, correct and complete information that might have saved many lives. This article attempts to systematically examine the L’Aquila trial (court decisions and bibliographic documents) to provide reliable lessons and safe conclusions on the psychological, social and legal aspects of disasters and how the uncertainty of natural hazards can be recognized, addressed and communicated to the public. It also outlines a detailed portrait of how scientists, bureaucrats and the media interact in such uncertainties.
