In "The Prince, " a treatise on the art of politics, the 16th century Italian philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli insisted that compassion got in the way of eminence.
Niccolo Ghedini, a lawyer for three of the Marzotto members, said the family also had received legal advice that they need not file an Italian tax return.
Lawyer Niccolo Ghedini said Mr Berlusconi would be too busy campaigning to follow the case or attend court - and also feared the trial could influence the election.
The politician's lawyer Niccolo Ghedini denied the claims - and said because D'Addario said Berlusconi had not personally hired or paid her he would have been the "utilizzatore finale" or "final user" of her services, and thus was not criminally liable.