São Paulo Councilman Files Complaint Against Judge Over Indemnity Ruling

Lucas Pavanato, a city councilman in São Paulo, has lodged a formal complaint with the National Justice Council (CNJ) against Judge Cláudia Thome Toni. The complaint stems from a ruling that ordered Pavanato to compensate a University of São Paulo (USP) student with R$ 8,060 for sharing a video featuring her without her consent.

Pavanato argues that the judge's ruling may have been influenced by her personal beliefs, citing her published works on LGBTQIA+ issues, in contrast to his known opposition to gender ideology. He contends that this perceived bias raises questions about the impartiality of the judgment.

The complaint calls for an administrative disciplinary procedure to investigate the judge's conduct and seeks appropriate sanctions. Pavanato asserts that the amount of the indemnity is excessive, claiming that the student participated voluntarily in the video and that the content was not intended to be offensive.

According to the details provided, the situation began when USP student Luana Fernanda Luiz filed a lawsuit against Pavanato, seeking damages for emotional distress. In the contested video, which has since been removed from social media platforms, Pavanato engaged students in a discussion about the philosophical views of Karl Marx and Adam Smith, igniting a debate on political ideologies.

The incident occurred in 2023, prior to Pavanato assuming his council position. The São Paulo judiciary mandated that he remove the video content and pay the specified amount in damages, which was initially set at R$ 7,060 but later adjusted to R$ 8,060 due to interest.

The councilman's actions have sparked discussions about judicial impartiality and the impact of personal beliefs on legal decisions. A response from the São Paulo Court of Justice regarding the judge's stance is currently awaited.