PROCEDURE

The case originated in an application (no. 44537/05) 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 Kazimierz Klimkiewicz (“the applicant”), on 14 October 2005.

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

On 25 September 2007 the President of the Fourth Section of the Court decided to give notice of the application to the Government. It was also decided to rule on the admissibility and merits of the application at the same time (Article 29 § 3).

The Government failed to submit their observations on the admissibility and merits of the case.

THE FACTS

I. THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE

The applicant was born in 1930 and lives in Łόdź.

A. Civil proceedings for payment

On 30 June 1997 the Łódź District Court (Sąd Rejonowy) instituted criminal proceedings against an individual charged with financial fraud. The applicant, who was considered to be a victim, was entitled to lodge in the context of the criminal case a claim for damages sustained as a result of the crime.

On 30 July 1997 the Łódź Regional Prosecutor (Prokurator Okręgowy) filed a civil claim for damages against the defendant on the applicant’s behalf. On 29 August 1997 the District Court admitted the claim.

A hearing scheduled for 25 January 2001 was adjourned because of the absence of the defendant, who had submitted a medical certificate indicating that he had health problems. On 13 February 2001 the defendant submitted another medical certificate stating that he had been admitted to a hospital. On 3 April 2001 the court held a hearing in the absence of the defendant. On 25 April 2001 the defendant submitted another medical certificate.

On 30 April 2001 the District Court ordered that the defendant be examined by a forensic specialist. On 23 July 2001 a medical report was submitted to the court. It stated that the defendant’s health prevented him from participating in the forthcoming hearings as he was to undergo surgery.

On 8 October 2001 the District Court stayed the proceedings and ordered the defendant to provide information on his medical treatment. The defendant failed to do so.

On 26 September 2002 the District Court issued an arrest warrant as the police had informed the court that the defendant had left his place of permanent residence. On 18 January 2003 the defendant was apprehended by the police and detained until 16 January 2004.

On 5 February 2003 the District Court again stayed the proceedings and ordered that the defendant be examined by a specialist. On 25 April 2003 a medical report was submitted to the court. It stated that the defendant’s health did not prevent him from participating in the proceedings.

On 25 September 2003 the court resumed the proceedings. On 28 October 2005 the court held a hearing.

The proceedings are currently pending.

B. Proceedings under the 2004 Act

On 14 October 2004 the applicant lodged a complaint with the Łódź Regional Court under section 5 of the Act of 17 June 2004 on complaints about a breach of the right to a trial within a reasonable time (“the 2004 Act”).

On 3 December 2004 the Łódź Regional Court dismissed the applicant’s complaint. The court considered that the proceedings had lasted a long time but found no “unreasonable delays” considering that the conduct of the defendant had significantly contributed to the length of the proceedings. That period of delay could not be attributed to the judicial authorities as it had been caused by the fact that the defendant had repeatedly failed to comply with the court’s orders.
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-92408_a1_e1
001-92408_a1_em1
CODE
DIRECT
44537/05
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-92408_a1_e2
001-92408_a1_em2
ORG
NO_MASK
Republic of Poland
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insert
001-92408_a1_e3
001-92408_a1_em3
DEM
NO_MASK
Polish
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001-92408_a1_e4
001-92408_a1_em4
PERSON
DIRECT
Mr Kazimierz Klimkiewicz
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001-92408_a1_e5
001-92408_a1_em5
DATETIME
QUASI
14 October 2005
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-92408_a1_e6
001-92408_a1_em6
ORG
NO_MASK
Polish Government
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-92408_a1_e7
001-92408_a1_em7
PERSON
QUASI
Mr J. Wołąsiewicz
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-92408_a1_e8
001-92408_a1_em8
DATETIME
QUASI
25 September 2007
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001-92408_a1_e9
001-92408_a1_em9
DATETIME
QUASI
1930
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001-92408_a1_e10
001-92408_a1_em10
LOC
NO_MASK
Łόdź
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001-92408_a1_e11
001-92408_a1_em11
DATETIME
QUASI
30 June 1997
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001-92408_a1_e12
001-92408_a1_em12
ORG
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Łódź District Court (Sąd Rejonowy)
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001-92408_a1_e13
001-92408_a1_em13
DATETIME
QUASI
30 July 1997
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001-92408_a1_e14
001-92408_a1_em14
DEM
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Łódź Regional Prosecutor (Prokurator Okręgowy)
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001-92408_a1_e15
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DATETIME
QUASI
29 August 1997
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001-92408_a1_e12
001-92408_a1_em16
ORG
NO_MASK
001-92408_a1_em12
District Court
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001-92408_a1_e16
001-92408_a1_em17
DATETIME
QUASI
25 January 2001
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001-92408_a1_e17
001-92408_a1_em18
DATETIME
QUASI
13 February 2001
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001-92408_a1_e18
001-92408_a1_em19
DATETIME
QUASI
3 April 2001
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001-92408_a1_e19
001-92408_a1_em20
DATETIME
QUASI
25 April 2001
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001-92408_a1_e20
001-92408_a1_em21
DATETIME
QUASI
30 April 2001
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001-92408_a1_e12
001-92408_a1_em22
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
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001-92408_a1_e21
001-92408_a1_em23
DATETIME
QUASI
23 July 2001
HEALTH
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001-92408_a1_em24
DEM
NO_MASK
undergo surgery
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001-92408_a1_e23
001-92408_a1_em25
DATETIME
QUASI
8 October 2001
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ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
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001-92408_a1_e24
001-92408_a1_em27
DATETIME
QUASI
26 September 2002
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001-92408_a1_e12
001-92408_a1_em28
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
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001-92408_a1_e25
001-92408_a1_em29
DATETIME
QUASI
18 January 2003
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001-92408_a1_e26
001-92408_a1_em30
DATETIME
QUASI
16 January 2004
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001-92408_a1_e27
001-92408_a1_em31
DATETIME
QUASI
5 February 2003
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001-92408_a1_e12
001-92408_a1_em32
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
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001-92408_a1_e28
001-92408_a1_em33
DATETIME
QUASI
25 April 2003
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001-92408_a1_e29
001-92408_a1_em34
DATETIME
QUASI
25 September 2003
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001-92408_a1_e30
001-92408_a1_em35
DATETIME
QUASI
28 October 2005
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001-92408_a1_e31
001-92408_a1_em36
DATETIME
QUASI
14 October 2004
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001-92408_a1_e32
001-92408_a1_em37
ORG
NO_MASK
Łódź Regional Court
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001-92408_a1_e33
001-92408_a1_em38
DATETIME
QUASI
3 December 2004
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001-92408_a1_e32
001-92408_a1_em39
ORG
NO_MASK
Łódź Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-92408_a4_e1
001-92408_a4_em1
CODE
DIRECT
44537/05
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-92408_a4_e2
001-92408_a4_em2
ORG
NO_MASK
Republic of Poland
ETHNIC
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001-92408_a4_e3
001-92408_a4_em3
DEM
NO_MASK
Polish national
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001-92408_a4_e4
001-92408_a4_em4
PERSON
DIRECT
Mr Kazimierz Klimkiewicz
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001-92408_a4_e5
001-92408_a4_em5
DATETIME
QUASI
14 October 2005
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001-92408_a4_e6
001-92408_a4_em6
ORG
NO_MASK
Polish Government
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001-92408_a4_e7
001-92408_a4_em7
PERSON
NO_MASK
Mr J. Wołąsiewicz
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001-92408_a4_e8
001-92408_a4_em8
ORG
NO_MASK
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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001-92408_a4_e9
001-92408_a4_em9
DATETIME
QUASI
25 September 2007
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001-92408_a4_e10
001-92408_a4_em10
DATETIME
QUASI
1930
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001-92408_a4_e11
001-92408_a4_em11
LOC
QUASI
Łόdź
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001-92408_a4_e12
001-92408_a4_em12
DATETIME
QUASI
30 June 1997
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-92408_a4_e13
001-92408_a4_em13
ORG
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Łódź District Court (Sąd Rejonowy)
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001-92408_a4_e14
001-92408_a4_em14
DATETIME
QUASI
30 July 1997
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001-92408_a4_e15
001-92408_a4_em15
ORG
NO_MASK
Łódź Regional Prosecutor (Prokurator Okręgowy)
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001-92408_a4_e16
001-92408_a4_em16
DATETIME
QUASI
29 August 1997
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001-92408_a4_e17
001-92408_a4_em17
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
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001-92408_a4_e18
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DATETIME
QUASI
25 January 2001
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001-92408_a4_e19
001-92408_a4_em19
DATETIME
NO_MASK
13 February 2001
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001-92408_a4_e20
001-92408_a4_em20
DATETIME
QUASI
3 April 2001
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001-92408_a4_em21
DATETIME
NO_MASK
25 April 2001
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QUASI
30 April 2001
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ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
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001-92408_a4_em24
DATETIME
QUASI
23 July 2001
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001-92408_a4_e24
001-92408_a4_em25
DATETIME
QUASI
8 October 2001
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001-92408_a4_e17
001-92408_a4_em26
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
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001-92408_a4_e25
001-92408_a4_em27
DATETIME
QUASI
26 September 2002
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001-92408_a4_e17
001-92408_a4_em28
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
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001-92408_a4_e26
001-92408_a4_em29
DATETIME
QUASI
18 January 2003
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001-92408_a4_e27
001-92408_a4_em30
DATETIME
QUASI
16 January 2004
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001-92408_a4_e28
001-92408_a4_em31
DATETIME
QUASI
5 February 2003
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001-92408_a4_e17
001-92408_a4_em32
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
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001-92408_a4_e29
001-92408_a4_em33
DATETIME
NO_MASK
25 April 2003
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001-92408_a4_e30
001-92408_a4_em34
DATETIME
QUASI
25 September 2003
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001-92408_a4_e31
001-92408_a4_em35
DATETIME
QUASI
28 October 2005
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001-92408_a4_e32
001-92408_a4_em36
DATETIME
QUASI
14 October 2004
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001-92408_a4_e33
001-92408_a4_em37
ORG
NO_MASK
Łódź Regional Court
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001-92408_a4_e34
001-92408_a4_em38
DATETIME
QUASI
3 December 2004
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001-92408_a4_e33
001-92408_a4_em39
ORG
NO_MASK
Łódź Regional Court
Kazimierz Klimkiewicz
POL
CHAMBER
Task: Annotate the document to anonymise the following person: Kazimierz Klimkiewicz