PROCEDURE

The case originated in an application (no. 49455/99) against the Republic of Austria lodged with the Court under Article 34 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (“the Convention”) by an Austrian national, Mrs Maria Gollner (“the applicant”), on 28 June 1999.

The applicant was represented before the Court by Mr M. Urbanek, a lawyer practising in St. Pölten. The Austrian Government (“the Government”) were represented by their Agent, Ambassador H. Winkler, Head of the International Law Department at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The applicant alleged, in particular, that civil proceedings concerning her lasted unreasonably long.

The application was allocated to the Third Section of the Court (Rule 52 § 1 of the Rules of Court).Within that Section, the Chamber that would consider the case (Article 27 § 1 of the Convention) was constituted as provided in Rule 26 § 1 of the Rules of Court.

By a decision of 21 November 2000 the Court declared the application partly admissible.

As of 1 November 2001 the application was allocated to the First Section of the Court. Within that Section, the Chamber that would consider the case was constituted as provided for in Rule 26 § 1 of the Rules of Court.

THE FACTS

On 23 October 1992 the applicant filed a maintenance application with the Herzogenburg District Court (Bezirksgericht) against her husband. At the same time she requested legal aid, which was granted on 28 October 1992. On 18 November 1992 a hearing was held. On 22 December 1992 the proceedings were discontinued following an agreement between the parties. They were resumed on 2 December 1993 and on 16 February 1994 a hearing was held. A further hearing which was scheduled for 3 May 1994 had to be cancelled due to the judge’s illness. On 7 November 1994 the applicant requested to be placed under the care of a guardian as far as the maintenance proceedings were concerned. This motion was granted by the St. Pölten Regional Court (Landesgericht) on 27 February 1995.

On 9 November 1994 a hearing was held and an expert was appointed to assess the income of the applicant’s husband. On 7 December 1994 the expert asked to be discharged. On 9 January 1995 the court appointed a new expert who submitted his opinion on 27 January 1995. Following two requests by the applicant for extensions of the time-limit for filing observations on the expert’s opinion, that time-limit was fixed at 28 April 1995. On 8 August 1995 a further hearing was held. On 7 September 1995 the court requested the expert to supplement his opinion which he did on 23 October 1995. Following two requests by the applicant for extensions of the time-limit, she submitted her comments on the supplemented expert opinion on 10 January 1996. On 21 March 1996 a further hearing was held. On 2 April 1996 the applicant lodged an application for the preservation of evidence (Beweissicherungsantrag). A hearing which had been scheduled for 15 April was cancelled upon the applicant’s request. It was held on 27 June 1996, when the taking of evidence was closed.

On 14 August 1996 the District Court gave judgment, partly dismissing the applicant’s claim. Following her appeal, the St. Pölten Regional Court quashed the decision for procedural errors on 13 December 1996 and referred the case back to the District Court. On 25 February 1997 the applicant appealed against the St. Pölten Regional Court’s decision. On 24 November 1997 the Supreme Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) confirmed the decision of the St. Pölten Regional Court, by which it had quashed the District Court’s decision of 14 August 1996.

Meanwhile, on 24 February 1997, the applicant lodged requests for provisional maintenance (vorläufiger Unterhalt) and for the preservation of evidence with the District Court. On 18 March 1997 the District Court dismissed the applicant’s motions. On 28 March 1997 the applicant appealed against this decision and filed a motion challenging the judge for bias.

On 13 February 1998 the bias motion was dismissed by the St. Pölten Regional Court. It noted that the complaint concerned alleged procedural errors and the length of the proceedings, which matters had no bearing on a challenge for bias. On 24 March 1998 the applicant’s appeal was dismissed by the Vienna Court of Appeal (Oberlandesgericht).

On 30 April 1998 the St. Pölten Regional Court dismissed the appeal concerning a motion for the preservation of evidence, but quashed the District Court’s refusal of the motions for provisional maintenance and referred the case back.

On 22 June and 17 September 1998 the District Court held hearings. On 24 September 1998 it partly dismissed the applicant’s maintenance claim.

On 23 October 1998 the applicant appealed against this decision and requested, pursuant to section 91 of the Courts Act (Gerichtsorganisations-gesetz), that a time-limit be fixed for the decision on the motions for provisional maintenance.

On 29 October 1998 the motions for provisional maintenance were partly dismissed by the District Court. On 23 November 1998 the applicant appealed against this decision.

On 3 March 1999 the St. Pölten Regional Court quashed the District Court’s judgment of 24 September 1998 for procedural errors and referred the case back. The appeal concerning the motions for provisional maintenance was partly dismissed. On 15 April 1999 the applicant therefore lodged a further appeal and requested that it be given suspensive effect to preserve the status quo before the Regional Court’s decision. On 27 April 1999 the District Court granted this request. On 22 June 1999 the applicant requested, pursuant to section 91 of the Courts Act, that a time‑limit be fixed for the decision on her further appeal. On 23 June 1999 the St Pölten Regional Court dismissed the further appeal against its decision of 3 March 1999 concerning the motions for provisional maintenance.

In the main proceedings a hearing scheduled for 17 August 1999 was postponed upon the applicant’s request. It was held on 30 September 1999. A further hearing scheduled for 1 December 1999 was cancelled due to the judge’s illness. Further hearings were held on 3 May 2000 and 15 June 2000.

On 25 August 2000 the Herzogenburg District Court rejected the applicant’s maintenance claim.

On 11 January 2001 the St. Pölten Regional Court, upon the applicant’s appeal, partly granted her maintenance claim. The judgment was served on 13 February 2001.
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e1
001-60017_a8_em1
CODE
DIRECT
49455/99
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-60017_a8_e2
001-60017_a8_em2
ORG
NO_MASK
Republic of Austria
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e3
001-60017_a8_em3
DEM
NO_MASK
Austrian
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e4
001-60017_a8_em4
PERSON
DIRECT
Mrs Maria Gollner
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e5
001-60017_a8_em5
DATETIME
QUASI
28 June 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e6
001-60017_a8_em6
PERSON
QUASI
Mr M. Urbanek
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e7
001-60017_a8_em7
LOC
NO_MASK
St. Pölten
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e8
001-60017_a8_em8
PERSON
QUASI
H. Winkler
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e9
001-60017_a8_em9
ORG
NO_MASK
International Law Department
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e10
001-60017_a8_em10
ORG
NO_MASK
Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e11
001-60017_a8_em11
DATETIME
QUASI
21 November 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e12
001-60017_a8_em12
DATETIME
QUASI
23 October 1992
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-60017_a8_e13
001-60017_a8_em13
ORG
QUASI
Herzogenburg District Court (Bezirksgericht)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e14
001-60017_a8_em14
DATETIME
QUASI
28 October 1992
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e15
001-60017_a8_em15
DATETIME
QUASI
18 November 1992
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e16
001-60017_a8_em16
DATETIME
QUASI
22 December 1992
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e17
001-60017_a8_em17
DATETIME
QUASI
2 December 1993
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e18
001-60017_a8_em18
DATETIME
QUASI
16 February 1994
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e19
001-60017_a8_em19
DATETIME
QUASI
3 May 1994
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e20
001-60017_a8_em20
DATETIME
QUASI
7 November 1994
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-60017_a8_e21
001-60017_a8_em21
ORG
QUASI
St. Pölten Regional Court (Landesgericht)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e22
001-60017_a8_em22
DATETIME
QUASI
27 February 1995
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e23
001-60017_a8_em23
DATETIME
QUASI
9 November 1994
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e24
001-60017_a8_em24
DATETIME
QUASI
7 December 1994
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e25
001-60017_a8_em25
DATETIME
QUASI
9 January 1995
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e26
001-60017_a8_em26
DATETIME
QUASI
27 January 1995
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e27
001-60017_a8_em27
DATETIME
QUASI
28 April 1995
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e28
001-60017_a8_em28
DATETIME
QUASI
8 August 1995
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e29
001-60017_a8_em29
DATETIME
QUASI
7 September 1995
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e30
001-60017_a8_em30
DATETIME
QUASI
23 October 1995
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e31
001-60017_a8_em31
DATETIME
QUASI
10 January 1996
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e32
001-60017_a8_em32
DATETIME
QUASI
21 March 1996
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e33
001-60017_a8_em33
DATETIME
QUASI
2 April 1996
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e34
001-60017_a8_em34
DATETIME
QUASI
15 April
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e35
001-60017_a8_em35
DATETIME
QUASI
27 June 1996
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e36
001-60017_a8_em36
DATETIME
QUASI
14 August 1996
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e37
001-60017_a8_em37
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e38
001-60017_a8_em38
ORG
QUASI
St. Pölten Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e39
001-60017_a8_em39
DATETIME
QUASI
13 December 1996
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e37
001-60017_a8_em40
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e40
001-60017_a8_em41
DATETIME
QUASI
25 February 1997
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-60017_a8_e38
001-60017_a8_em42
ORG
QUASI
St. Pölten Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e41
001-60017_a8_em43
DATETIME
QUASI
24 November 1997
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-60017_a8_e42
001-60017_a8_em44
ORG
NO_MASK
Supreme Court (Oberster Gerichtshof)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e38
001-60017_a8_em45
ORG
QUASI
St. Pölten Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e43
001-60017_a8_em46
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court’s
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e36
001-60017_a8_em47
DATETIME
QUASI
14 August 1996
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e44
001-60017_a8_em48
DATETIME
QUASI
24 February 1997
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e37
001-60017_a8_em49
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e45
001-60017_a8_em50
DATETIME
QUASI
18 March 1997
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e37
001-60017_a8_em51
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e46
001-60017_a8_em52
DATETIME
QUASI
28 March 1997
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e47
001-60017_a8_em53
DATETIME
QUASI
13 February 1998
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e38
001-60017_a8_em54
ORG
QUASI
St. Pölten Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e48
001-60017_a8_em55
DATETIME
QUASI
24 March 1998
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-60017_a8_e49
001-60017_a8_em56
ORG
NO_MASK
Vienna Court of Appeal (Oberlandesgericht)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e50
001-60017_a8_em57
DATETIME
QUASI
30 April 1998
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e38
001-60017_a8_em58
ORG
QUASI
St. Pölten Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e43
001-60017_a8_em59
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court’s
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e51
001-60017_a8_em60
DATETIME
QUASI
22 June
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e52
001-60017_a8_em61
DATETIME
QUASI
17 September 1998
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e37
001-60017_a8_em62
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e53
001-60017_a8_em63
DATETIME
QUASI
24 September 1998
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e54
001-60017_a8_em64
DATETIME
QUASI
23 October 1998
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e55
001-60017_a8_em65
DATETIME
QUASI
29 October 1998
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e37
001-60017_a8_em66
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e56
001-60017_a8_em67
DATETIME
QUASI
23 November 1998
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e57
001-60017_a8_em68
DATETIME
QUASI
3 March 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e38
001-60017_a8_em69
ORG
QUASI
St. Pölten Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e43
001-60017_a8_em70
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court’s
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e53
001-60017_a8_em71
DATETIME
QUASI
24 September 1998
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e58
001-60017_a8_em72
DATETIME
QUASI
15 April 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e59
001-60017_a8_em73
ORG
NO_MASK
Regional Court’s
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e60
001-60017_a8_em74
DATETIME
QUASI
27 April 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e37
001-60017_a8_em75
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e61
001-60017_a8_em76
DATETIME
QUASI
22 June 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e62
001-60017_a8_em77
DATETIME
QUASI
23 June 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e63
001-60017_a8_em78
ORG
QUASI
St Pölten Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e57
001-60017_a8_em79
DATETIME
QUASI
3 March 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e64
001-60017_a8_em80
DATETIME
QUASI
17 August 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e65
001-60017_a8_em81
DATETIME
QUASI
30 September 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e66
001-60017_a8_em82
DATETIME
QUASI
1 December 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e67
001-60017_a8_em83
DATETIME
QUASI
3 May 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e68
001-60017_a8_em84
DATETIME
QUASI
15 June 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e69
001-60017_a8_em85
DATETIME
QUASI
25 August 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-60017_a8_e70
001-60017_a8_em86
ORG
QUASI
Herzogenburg District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e71
001-60017_a8_em87
DATETIME
QUASI
11 January 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e38
001-60017_a8_em88
ORG
QUASI
St. Pölten Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60017_a8_e72
001-60017_a8_em89
DATETIME
QUASI
13 February 2001
Maria Gollner
AUT
CHAMBER
Task: Annotate the document to anonymise the following person: Maria Gollner