PROCEDURE

The case originated in an application (no. 71625/01) against the Republic of Poland lodged with the Court under Article 34 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (“the Convention”) by a Polish national, Mrs Maria Lizut-Skwarek (“the applicant”), on 7 March 2000.

The Polish Government (“the Government”) were represented by their Agent, Mr J. Wołąsiewicz of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On 5 June 2003 the President of the Fourth Section decided to communicate the complaint concerning the length of the proceedings to the Government. Under the provisions of Article 29 § 3 of the Convention, it was decided to examine the merits of the application at the same time as its admissibility.

THE FACTS

The applicant was born in 1948 and lives in Lublin, Poland.

On 4 January 1994 Ms A.O-K. and Ms G.T. (“the plaintiffs”) instituted civil proceedings against the applicant before the Lublin District Court (Sąd Rejonowy) in which they sought a ruling on how the property co-owned by the applicant should be used by all co-owners.

On 20 May 1994 the court held the first hearing.

In November 1994 the plaintiffs modified their application and requested that co-ownership of the plot of the land and a building be dissolved (zniesienie współwłasności).

Subsequently, hearings were held on 9 December 1994, 13 and 27 January 1995.

In August 1994, the applicant lodged with the Lublin District Court a civil action for payment against Ms A.O-K. and Ms G.T. She sought reimbursement of maintenance costs in respect of the property and payment of rent for their office. On 28 November 1994 the Lublin District Court decided to join the case with the proceedings concerning the dissolution of co-ownership.

Between 28 January and 16 October 1995 no hearings were held.

At the next hearing held on 17 October 1995 the court decided to hold a view of the property.

On 8 November 1995 the judge with an expert viewed the house.

In December 1995 the parties challenged the judge. On 31 January 1996 the Lublin District Court dismissed the application. On 21 March 1996 the Lublin Regional Court dismissed their appeal.

On 26 April 1996 the applicant applied to the court for an interim ruling on her claim for payment lodged in August 1994.

In 1996 the Lublin District Court held three hearings and ordered expert opinions.

Subsequently, the court held hearings on 28 January and 25 February 1997. The court heard an expert witness and requested the third expert opinion.

Between February 1997 and February 1998 the court, sitting in camera, gave several decisions concerning expert opinions. No hearings were held.

On 19 February, 10 April, 14 May, 4 and 26 June 1998 the court held hearings at which it heard several expert witnesses.

No hearings were held between 27 June 1998 and 10 February 1999.

At the hearings held on 11 February and 25 March 1999 the court heard two expert witnesses and ordered that the sixth expert opinion be obtained.

Between 29 September 1999 and 7 January 2000 the court held four hearings at which it heard expert witnesses.

At the hearing held on 20 January 2000 the Lublin District Court gave a preliminary decision (postanowienie wstępne) and allowed Ms A.O-K. and Ms G.T. to carry out some construction work in the house.

The applicant and other co-owners appealed against this decision.

The Lublin Regional Court (Sąd Okręgowy) held several hearings and on 27 March 2001 it quashed the preliminary decision of the Lublin District Court.

In 2000 the applicant complained to the Minister of Justice about the length of the proceedings.

On 31 August and 10 December 2001 the trial court held hearings.

In 2002 the Lublin District Court held seven hearings and on 10 October 2002 it gave decision and dissolved the co‑ownership of the building.

Both parties lodged appeals against this decision.

On 6 March 2003 the Lublin Regional Court held a hearing.

At the subsequent hearing held on 9 April 2003 the parties concluded a friendly settlement. Subsequently, the Lublin Regional Court discontinued the proceedings.
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e1
001-66829_a6_em1
CODE
DIRECT
71625/01
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-66829_a6_e2
001-66829_a6_em2
ORG
NO_MASK
Republic of Poland
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e2
001-66829_a6_em3
DEM
QUASI
Polish
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e3
001-66829_a6_em4
PERSON
DIRECT
Mrs Maria Lizut-Skwarek
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e4
001-66829_a6_em5
DATETIME
QUASI
7 March 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-66829_a6_e2
001-66829_a6_em6
ORG
NO_MASK
001-66829_a6_em2
Polish
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e5
001-66829_a6_em7
PERSON
QUASI
Mr J. Wołąsiewicz
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e6
001-66829_a6_em8
DATETIME
QUASI
5 June 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e7
001-66829_a6_em9
DATETIME
QUASI
1948
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e8
001-66829_a6_em10
LOC
QUASI
Lublin, Poland
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e9
001-66829_a6_em11
DATETIME
QUASI
4 January 1994
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e10
001-66829_a6_em12
PERSON
QUASI
Ms A.O-K.
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e11
001-66829_a6_em13
PERSON
QUASI
Ms G.T.
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e12
001-66829_a6_em14
ORG
QUASI
Lublin District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-66829_a6_e12
001-66829_a6_em15
ORG
QUASI
001-66829_a6_em14
Sąd Rejonowy
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e13
001-66829_a6_em16
DATETIME
QUASI
20 May 1994
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e14
001-66829_a6_em17
DATETIME
QUASI
November 1994
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e15
001-66829_a6_em18
DATETIME
QUASI
9 December 1994
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-66829_a6_e16
001-66829_a6_em19
DATETIME
QUASI
13 and 27 January 1995
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e17
001-66829_a6_em20
DATETIME
QUASI
August 1994
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e12
001-66829_a6_em21
ORG
QUASI
Lublin District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-66829_a6_e10
001-66829_a6_em22
PERSON
QUASI
001-66829_a6_em12
Ms A.O-K.
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e11
001-66829_a6_em23
PERSON
QUASI
Ms G.T.
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e18
001-66829_a6_em24
DATETIME
QUASI
28 November 1994
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e12
001-66829_a6_em25
ORG
QUASI
Lublin District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-66829_a6_e19
001-66829_a6_em26
DATETIME
QUASI
Between 28 January and 16 October 1995
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e20
001-66829_a6_em27
DATETIME
QUASI
17 October 1995
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e21
001-66829_a6_em28
DATETIME
QUASI
8 November 1995
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e22
001-66829_a6_em29
DATETIME
QUASI
December 1995
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e23
001-66829_a6_em30
DATETIME
QUASI
31 January 1996
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e12
001-66829_a6_em31
ORG
QUASI
Lublin District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e24
001-66829_a6_em32
DATETIME
QUASI
21 March 1996
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e25
001-66829_a6_em33
ORG
NO_MASK
Lublin Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e26
001-66829_a6_em34
DATETIME
QUASI
26 April 1996
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e17
001-66829_a6_em35
DATETIME
QUASI
August 1994
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e27
001-66829_a6_em36
DATETIME
QUASI
1996
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e12
001-66829_a6_em37
ORG
QUASI
Lublin District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-66829_a6_e28
001-66829_a6_em38
DATETIME
QUASI
28 January and 25 February 1997
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-66829_a6_e29
001-66829_a6_em39
DATETIME
QUASI
Between February 1997 and February 1998
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-66829_a6_e30
001-66829_a6_em40
DATETIME
QUASI
19 February, 10 April, 14 May, 4 and 26 June 1998
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-66829_a6_e31
001-66829_a6_em41
DATETIME
QUASI
27 June 1998
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e32
001-66829_a6_em42
DATETIME
QUASI
10 February 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-66829_a6_e33
001-66829_a6_em43
DATETIME
QUASI
11 February and 25 March 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-66829_a6_e34
001-66829_a6_em44
DATETIME
QUASI
Between 29 September 1999 and 7 January 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e35
001-66829_a6_em45
DATETIME
QUASI
20 January 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e12
001-66829_a6_em46
ORG
QUASI
Lublin District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e10
001-66829_a6_em47
PERSON
QUASI
Ms A.O-K.
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e11
001-66829_a6_em48
PERSON
QUASI
Ms G.T.
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e25
001-66829_a6_em49
ORG
NO_MASK
Lublin Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-66829_a6_e25
001-66829_a6_em50
ORG
NO_MASK
001-66829_a6_em49
Sąd Okręgowy
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e36
001-66829_a6_em51
DATETIME
QUASI
27 March 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e12
001-66829_a6_em52
ORG
QUASI
Lublin District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e37
001-66829_a6_em53
DATETIME
QUASI
2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-66829_a6_e38
001-66829_a6_em54
DATETIME
QUASI
31 August and 10 December 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e39
001-66829_a6_em55
DATETIME
QUASI
2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e12
001-66829_a6_em56
ORG
QUASI
Lublin District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e40
001-66829_a6_em57
DATETIME
QUASI
10 October 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e41
001-66829_a6_em58
DATETIME
QUASI
6 March 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e25
001-66829_a6_em59
ORG
NO_MASK
Lublin Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e42
001-66829_a6_em60
DATETIME
QUASI
9 April 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-66829_a6_e25
001-66829_a6_em61
ORG
NO_MASK
Lublin Regional Court
Maria Lizut-Skwarek
POL
CHAMBER
Task: Annotate the document to anonymise the following person: Maria Lizut-Skwarek