… and charged them to the responsible / perpetrating / liable party.”

“Contestando-” referrers to the charge and “-li” referrers to the damages.

Contestare v.tr
1. (negare) to deny; to contest: l’imputato contestò l’accusa, the accused denied the charge; — un addebito, to contest a debit; — un contratto, to contest a contract; — a qlcu. il diritto di fare qlco., to challenge (o to contest) s.o.’s right to do sthg.
2. (dir.) (notificare) to notify: il pubblico ministero contestò all’imputato il reato di furto, the prosecutor charged the defendant with theft |— una contravvenzione a qlcu., to fine s.o.; (amer.) to give s.o. a ticket
3. (opporsi a) to contest, to question; to challenge; to dispute: gli studenti contestavano la decisione presa dal preside, the students challenged the decision taken by the headmaster.