PROCEDURE

The case originated in an application (no. 6214/02) 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, Mr Edmund Kranz (“the applicant”), on 29 January 2002.

The Polish Government (“the Government”) were represented by their Agents, Mr K. Drzewicki and subsequently Mr J. Wołąsiewicz of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On 10 September 2002 the Court declared the application partly inadmissible and 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 decided to examine the merits of the application at the same time as its admissibility. It also gave priority to application, pursuant to Rule 41 of the Rules of the Court.

THE FACTS

The applicant was born in 1919 and lives in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

On 19 July 1966 the applicant and his wife obtained a divorce decree. On 5 November 1975 the applicant's ex-wife filed with the Bydgoszcz District Court (Sąd Rejonowy) a petition for division of the matrimonial property. On 16 October 1978 the Bydgoszcz District Court gave a decision. Both parties appealed. On 30 May 1979 the Bydgoszcz Regional Court (Sąd Wojewódzki) quashed the first-instance decision and remitted the case. In 1982 the applicant's ex-wife donated her share in the disputed property to A.H. and E.H., who became parties to the proceedings.

On 2 December 1990 the applicant sent a letter to the Minister of Justice, complaining about the slow progress of the proceedings. On 15 February 1991, in reply to his complaints, the President of the Bydgoszcz Regional Court acknowledged that the proceedings were indeed lengthy. Prior to 1 May 1993, the Bydgoszcz District Court held a number of hearings and obtained several expert reports.

On 19 July 1993 the District Court held a hearing. On 5 January 1994 the applicant challenged the impartiality of the presiding judge.

On 29 May 1995 the District Court ordered that expert evidence be obtained. On 23 October 1995 the expert informed the court that he had been unable to prepare a report due to the applicant's conduct.

On 6 September and 23 October 1995 the trial court held inspections of the site.

On 2 October 1996 the Bydgoszcz District Court gave a decision. The court granted ownership of the entire property (plot of land and the house) to A.H. and E.H. The court also ordered them to pay off the applicant's share in the estate.

On 5 June 1997, on the applicant's appeal, the Bydgoszcz Regional Court partly amended the first-instance decision. On 19 September 1997 the applicant lodged a cassation appeal.

On 4 February 1998 A.H. and E.H. sold their share in the property to a certain J.S. On 28 April 1999 the Supreme Court (Sąd Najwyższy) quashed the decision of 5 June 1997 and remitted the case to the Bydgoszcz Regional Court (Sąd Okręgowy).

On 27 January 2000 the Bydgoszcz Regional Court gave a decision and remitted the case to the District Court.

On 20 December 2000 the Bydgoszcz District Court issued an interim order allowing the applicant to install central heating in his part of the house. On 25 June 2001, upon an appeal by J.S., the Bydgoszcz Regional Court quashed this decision.

On 21 January 2001 the District Court held a hearing.

The proceedings are pending before the Bydgoszcz District Court.
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61631_a1_e1
001-61631_a1_em1
CODE
DIRECT
6214/02
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-61631_a1_e2
001-61631_a1_em2
ORG
NO_MASK
Republic of Poland
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-61631_a1_e3
001-61631_a1_em3
DEM
NO_MASK
Polish
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001-61631_a1_e4
001-61631_a1_em4
PERSON
DIRECT
Mr Edmund Kranz
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001-61631_a1_e5
001-61631_a1_em5
DATETIME
QUASI
29 January 2002
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001-61631_a1_e6
001-61631_a1_em6
ORG
NO_MASK
Polish Government
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-61631_a1_e7
001-61631_a1_em7
PERSON
QUASI
Mr K. Drzewicki
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001-61631_a1_e8
001-61631_a1_em8
PERSON
QUASI
Mr J. Wołąsiewicz
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001-61631_a1_e9
001-61631_a1_em9
DATETIME
QUASI
10 September 2002
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001-61631_a1_e10
001-61631_a1_em10
DATETIME
QUASI
1919
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001-61631_a1_e11
001-61631_a1_em11
LOC
QUASI
Bydgoszcz, Poland
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-61631_a1_e12
001-61631_a1_em12
DATETIME
QUASI
19 July 1966
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001-61631_a1_e13
001-61631_a1_em13
DATETIME
QUASI
5 November 1975
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insert
001-61631_a1_e14
001-61631_a1_em14
ORG
QUASI
Bydgoszcz District Court (Sąd Rejonowy)
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check
001-61631_a1_e15
001-61631_a1_em15
DATETIME
QUASI
16 October 1978
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insert
001-61631_a1_e14
001-61631_a1_em16
ORG
QUASI
Bydgoszcz District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61631_a1_e16
001-61631_a1_em17
DATETIME
QUASI
30 May 1979
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-61631_a1_e17
001-61631_a1_em18
ORG
QUASI
Bydgoszcz Regional Court (Sąd Wojewódzki)
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001-61631_a1_e18
001-61631_a1_em19
DATETIME
QUASI
1982
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001-61631_a1_e19
001-61631_a1_em20
DATETIME
QUASI
2 December 1990
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001-61631_a1_e20
001-61631_a1_em21
DEM
NO_MASK
Minister of Justice
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001-61631_a1_e21
001-61631_a1_em22
DATETIME
QUASI
15 February 1991
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001-61631_a1_e22
001-61631_a1_em23
DEM
QUASI
President of the Bydgoszcz Regional Court
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001-61631_a1_e23
001-61631_a1_em24
DATETIME
QUASI
1 May 1993
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001-61631_a1_e14
001-61631_a1_em25
ORG
QUASI
001-61631_a1_em14
Bydgoszcz District Court
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001-61631_a1_e24
001-61631_a1_em26
DATETIME
QUASI
19 July 1993
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001-61631_a1_e14
001-61631_a1_em27
ORG
NO_MASK
001-61631_a1_em25
District Court
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001-61631_a1_e25
001-61631_a1_em28
DATETIME
QUASI
5 January 1994
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001-61631_a1_e26
001-61631_a1_em29
DATETIME
QUASI
29 May 1995
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001-61631_a1_e14
001-61631_a1_em30
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
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001-61631_a1_e27
001-61631_a1_em31
DATETIME
QUASI
23 October 1995
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001-61631_a1_e28
001-61631_a1_em32
DATETIME
QUASI
6 September
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001-61631_a1_e27
001-61631_a1_em33
DATETIME
QUASI
23 October 1995
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001-61631_a1_e29
001-61631_a1_em34
DATETIME
QUASI
2 October 1996
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001-61631_a1_e14
001-61631_a1_em35
ORG
QUASI
Bydgoszcz District Court
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001-61631_a1_e30
001-61631_a1_em36
DATETIME
QUASI
5 June 1997
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001-61631_a1_e31
001-61631_a1_em37
ORG
QUASI
Bydgoszcz Regional Court
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001-61631_a1_e32
001-61631_a1_em38
DATETIME
QUASI
19 September 1997
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001-61631_a1_e33
001-61631_a1_em39
DATETIME
QUASI
4 February 1998
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001-61631_a1_e34
001-61631_a1_em40
DATETIME
QUASI
28 April 1999
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001-61631_a1_e35
001-61631_a1_em41
ORG
NO_MASK
Supreme Court (Sąd Najwyższy)
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check
001-61631_a1_e30
001-61631_a1_em42
DATETIME
QUASI
5 June 1997
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001-61631_a1_e36
001-61631_a1_em43
ORG
QUASI
Bydgoszcz Regional Court (Sąd Okręgowy)
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001-61631_a1_e37
001-61631_a1_em44
DATETIME
QUASI
27 January 2000
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001-61631_a1_e31
001-61631_a1_em45
ORG
QUASI
Bydgoszcz Regional Court
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001-61631_a1_e14
001-61631_a1_em46
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
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001-61631_a1_e38
001-61631_a1_em47
DATETIME
QUASI
20 December 2000
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001-61631_a1_e14
001-61631_a1_em48
ORG
QUASI
Bydgoszcz District Court
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001-61631_a1_e39
001-61631_a1_em49
DATETIME
QUASI
25 June 2001
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001-61631_a1_e31
001-61631_a1_em50
ORG
QUASI
Bydgoszcz Regional Court
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001-61631_a1_e40
001-61631_a1_em51
DATETIME
QUASI
21 January 2001
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001-61631_a1_e14
001-61631_a1_em52
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
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001-61631_a1_e14
001-61631_a1_em53
ORG
QUASI
Bydgoszcz District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61631_a4_e1
001-61631_a4_em1
CODE
DIRECT
6214/02
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-61631_a4_e2
001-61631_a4_em2
ORG
NO_MASK
Republic of Poland
ETHNIC
insert
001-61631_a4_e3
001-61631_a4_em3
DEM
NO_MASK
Polish national
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001-61631_a4_e4
001-61631_a4_em4
PERSON
DIRECT
Mr Edmund Kranz
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001-61631_a4_e5
001-61631_a4_em5
DATETIME
QUASI
29 January 2002
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001-61631_a4_e6
001-61631_a4_em6
ORG
NO_MASK
Polish Government
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001-61631_a4_e7
001-61631_a4_em7
PERSON
NO_MASK
Mr K. Drzewicki
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001-61631_a4_e8
001-61631_a4_em8
PERSON
NO_MASK
Mr J. Wołąsiewicz
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insert
001-61631_a4_e9
001-61631_a4_em9
ORG
NO_MASK
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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001-61631_a4_e10
001-61631_a4_em10
DATETIME
QUASI
10 September 2002
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001-61631_a4_e11
001-61631_a4_em11
DATETIME
QUASI
1919
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001-61631_a4_e12
001-61631_a4_em12
LOC
QUASI
Bydgoszcz, Poland
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001-61631_a4_e13
001-61631_a4_em13
DATETIME
QUASI
19 July 1966
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001-61631_a4_e14
001-61631_a4_em14
DATETIME
QUASI
5 November 1975
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001-61631_a4_e15
001-61631_a4_em15
ORG
QUASI
Bydgoszcz District Court (Sąd Rejonowy)
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check
001-61631_a4_e16
001-61631_a4_em16
DATETIME
QUASI
16 October 1978
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001-61631_a4_e15
001-61631_a4_em17
ORG
QUASI
001-61631_a4_em15
Bydgoszcz District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61631_a4_e17
001-61631_a4_em18
DATETIME
QUASI
30 May 1979
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-61631_a4_e18
001-61631_a4_em19
ORG
QUASI
Bydgoszcz Regional Court (Sąd Wojewódzki)
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001-61631_a4_e19
001-61631_a4_em20
DATETIME
QUASI
1982
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correct
001-61631_a4_e20
001-61631_a4_em21
PERSON
QUASI
A.H.
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correct
001-61631_a4_e21
001-61631_a4_em22
PERSON
QUASI
E.H.
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001-61631_a4_e22
001-61631_a4_em23
DATETIME
QUASI
2 December 1990
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001-61631_a4_e23
001-61631_a4_em24
ORG
NO_MASK
Minister of Justice
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001-61631_a4_e24
001-61631_a4_em25
DATETIME
QUASI
15 February 1991
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001-61631_a4_e25
001-61631_a4_em26
ORG
QUASI
Bydgoszcz Regional Court
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001-61631_a4_e26
001-61631_a4_em27
DATETIME
QUASI
1 May 1993
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001-61631_a4_e15
001-61631_a4_em28
ORG
QUASI
Bydgoszcz District Court
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001-61631_a4_e27
001-61631_a4_em29
DATETIME
QUASI
19 July 1993
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001-61631_a4_e28
001-61631_a4_em30
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-61631_a4_e29
001-61631_a4_em31
DATETIME
QUASI
5 January 1994
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DATETIME
QUASI
29 May 1995
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001-61631_a4_e28
001-61631_a4_em33
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
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001-61631_a4_e31
001-61631_a4_em34
DATETIME
QUASI
23 October 1995
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DATETIME
QUASI
6 September
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DATETIME
QUASI
23 October 1995
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001-61631_a4_em37
DATETIME
QUASI
2 October 1996
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001-61631_a4_em38
ORG
QUASI
Bydgoszcz District Court
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001-61631_a4_e20
001-61631_a4_em39
PERSON
QUASI
A.H.
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001-61631_a4_em40
PERSON
QUASI
E.H.
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001-61631_a4_e34
001-61631_a4_em41
DATETIME
QUASI
5 June 1997
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001-61631_a4_em42
ORG
QUASI
Bydgoszcz Regional Court
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001-61631_a4_e35
001-61631_a4_em43
DATETIME
QUASI
19 September 1997
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001-61631_a4_e36
001-61631_a4_em44
DATETIME
QUASI
4 February 1998
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001-61631_a4_e20
001-61631_a4_em45
PERSON
QUASI
A.H.
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correct
001-61631_a4_e21
001-61631_a4_em46
PERSON
QUASI
E.H.
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correct
001-61631_a4_e37
001-61631_a4_em47
PERSON
QUASI
J.S.
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001-61631_a4_e38
001-61631_a4_em48
DATETIME
QUASI
28 April 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-61631_a4_e39
001-61631_a4_em49
ORG
NO_MASK
Supreme Court (Sąd Najwyższy)
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001-61631_a4_e34
001-61631_a4_em50
DATETIME
QUASI
5 June 1997
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-61631_a4_e40
001-61631_a4_em51
ORG
QUASI
Bydgoszcz Regional Court (Sąd Okręgowy)
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001-61631_a4_e41
001-61631_a4_em52
DATETIME
QUASI
27 January 2000
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001-61631_a4_em53
ORG
QUASI
Bydgoszcz Regional Court
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001-61631_a4_e28
001-61631_a4_em54
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
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001-61631_a4_e42
001-61631_a4_em55
DATETIME
QUASI
20 December 2000
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001-61631_a4_e15
001-61631_a4_em56
ORG
QUASI
Bydgoszcz District Court
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001-61631_a4_e43
001-61631_a4_em57
DATETIME
QUASI
25 June 2001
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001-61631_a4_e37
001-61631_a4_em58
PERSON
QUASI
J.S.
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001-61631_a4_e25
001-61631_a4_em59
ORG
QUASI
Bydgoszcz Regional Court
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001-61631_a4_e44
001-61631_a4_em60
DATETIME
QUASI
21 January 2001
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001-61631_a4_e28
001-61631_a4_em61
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
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001-61631_a4_e15
001-61631_a4_em62
ORG
QUASI
Bydgoszcz District Court
Edmund Kranz
POL
CHAMBER
Task: Annotate the document to anonymise the following person: Edmund Kranz