PROCEDURE

The case originated in an application (no. 52468/99) 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, Tadeusz Sienkiewicz (“the applicant”), on 30 March 1999.

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

The applicant alleged, in particular, that the proceedings in his case had not been conducted within a reasonable time.

The application was allocated to the Fourth 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.

On 1 November 2001 the Court changed the composition of its Sections (Rule 25 § 1). This case was assigned to the newly composed Fourth Section (Rule 52 § 1).

By a decision of 10 September 2002 the Court declared the application admissible.

THE FACTS

I. THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE

The applicant was born in 1937 and lives in Szczecin, Poland.

In 1989 the applicant, who worked as head of a department in a state-owned enterprise dealing with conservation of old buildings, was dismissed. Subsequently, he filed with the Szczecin District Court (Sąd Rejonowy) an action in which he requested that his dismissal be declared null and void, as well as that he be reinstated in his former post.

On 16 February 1990 the court dismissed his action. The applicant appealed, but on 22 June 1990 the Szczecin Regional Court (Sąd Wojewódzki) dismissed his appeal.

On 7 June 1993 the Ombudsman lodged an extraordinary appeal against the Regional Court’s judgment.

On 14 July 1993 the Supreme Court quashed that judgment and remitted the case for re-examination.

In his pleadings of 28 March 1994 the applicant withdrew his claim for reinstatement in his former post and raised a compensation claim.

The District Court held hearings on 9 May and 28 November 1994, as well as on 2 and 25 January 1995.

On 25 January 1995 it dismissed the action again.

On 30 June 1995 the Szczecin Regional Court dismissed the applicant’s appeal against the District Court’s judgment.

On 2 August 1996 the Ombudsman lodged a cassation appeal against that judgment.

On 13 December 1996 the Supreme Court quashed the Regional Court’s judgment and remitted the case for re-examination.

On 23 April 1997 the Szczecin District Court stayed the proceedings, because of the fact that insolvency proceedings concerning the defendant were pending. The applicant lodged an appeal against that decision. On 30 June 1997 it was dismissed by the Szczecin Regional Court.

On 21 September 1998 the District Court resumed the proceedings.

On 22 October 1998 it held a hearing.

On 26 October 1998 the court awarded the applicant a partial compensation. The applicant appealed against that judgment.

On 17 February 1999 the Szczecin Regional Court held a hearing.

On 24 February 1999 it quashed the judgment of 26 October 1998 and remitted the case for re-examination.

The District Court held hearings on 23 July, as well as on 15 and 29 November 1999.

On 29 November 1999 it gave a judgment, in which it awarded the applicant compensation. The applicant appealed.

The Szczecin Regional Court held hearings on 10 and 31 May 2000.

On 31 May 2000 it amended the judgment under appeal in that it increased the amount of the compensation.
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a1_e1
001-61313_a1_em1
CODE
DIRECT
52468/99
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-61313_a1_e2
001-61313_a1_em2
ORG
NO_MASK
Republic of Poland
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-61313_a1_e3
001-61313_a1_em3
DEM
NO_MASK
Polish
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a1_e4
001-61313_a1_em4
PERSON
DIRECT
Tadeusz Sienkiewicz
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a1_e5
001-61313_a1_em5
DATETIME
QUASI
30 March 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-61313_a1_e6
001-61313_a1_em6
ORG
NO_MASK
Polish Government
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a1_e7
001-61313_a1_em7
PERSON
QUASI
Mr K. Drzewicki
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a1_e8
001-61313_a1_em8
DATETIME
QUASI
10 September 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a1_e9
001-61313_a1_em9
DATETIME
QUASI
1937
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a1_e10
001-61313_a1_em10
LOC
NO_MASK
Szczecin, Poland
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a1_e11
001-61313_a1_em11
DATETIME
QUASI
1989
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-61313_a1_e12
001-61313_a1_em12
DEM
QUASI
head of a department
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-61313_a1_e13
001-61313_a1_em13
MISC
QUASI
state-owned enterprise dealing with conservation of old buildings
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-61313_a1_e14
001-61313_a1_em14
ORG
NO_MASK
Szczecin District Court (Sąd Rejonowy)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a1_e15
001-61313_a1_em15
DATETIME
QUASI
16 February 1990
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a1_e16
001-61313_a1_em16
DATETIME
QUASI
22 June 1990
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-61313_a1_e17
001-61313_a1_em17
ORG
NO_MASK
Szczecin Regional Court (Sąd Wojewódzki)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a1_e18
001-61313_a1_em18
DATETIME
QUASI
7 June 1993
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a1_e19
001-61313_a1_em19
ORG
NO_MASK
Ombudsman
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check
001-61313_a1_e20
001-61313_a1_em20
DATETIME
QUASI
14 July 1993
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a1_e21
001-61313_a1_em21
ORG
NO_MASK
Supreme Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a1_e22
001-61313_a1_em22
DATETIME
QUASI
28 March 1994
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-61313_a1_e23
001-61313_a1_em23
DATETIME
QUASI
9 May
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-61313_a1_e24
001-61313_a1_em24
DATETIME
QUASI
28 November 1994
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-61313_a1_e25
001-61313_a1_em25
DATETIME
QUASI
2 and 25 January 1995
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001-61313_a1_e26
001-61313_a1_em26
DATETIME
QUASI
25 January 1995
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001-61313_a1_e27
001-61313_a1_em27
DATETIME
QUASI
30 June 1995
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-61313_a1_e17
001-61313_a1_em28
ORG
NO_MASK
001-61313_a1_em17
Szczecin Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a1_e28
001-61313_a1_em29
DATETIME
QUASI
2 August 1996
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a1_e19
001-61313_a1_em30
ORG
NO_MASK
Ombudsman
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a1_e29
001-61313_a1_em31
DATETIME
QUASI
13 December 1996
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a1_e21
001-61313_a1_em32
ORG
NO_MASK
Supreme Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a1_e30
001-61313_a1_em33
DATETIME
QUASI
23 April 1997
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-61313_a1_e14
001-61313_a1_em34
ORG
NO_MASK
001-61313_a1_em14
Szczecin District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a1_e31
001-61313_a1_em35
DATETIME
QUASI
30 June 1997
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a1_e17
001-61313_a1_em36
ORG
NO_MASK
Szczecin Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a1_e32
001-61313_a1_em37
DATETIME
QUASI
21 September 1998
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a1_e33
001-61313_a1_em38
DATETIME
QUASI
22 October 1998
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-61313_a1_e34
001-61313_a1_em39
DATETIME
QUASI
26 October 1998
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a1_e35
001-61313_a1_em40
DATETIME
QUASI
17 February 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a1_e17
001-61313_a1_em41
ORG
NO_MASK
Szczecin Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a1_e36
001-61313_a1_em42
DATETIME
QUASI
24 February 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a1_e34
001-61313_a1_em43
DATETIME
QUASI
26 October 1998
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001-61313_a1_e37
001-61313_a1_em44
DATETIME
QUASI
23 July
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-61313_a1_e38
001-61313_a1_em45
DATETIME
QUASI
15 and 29 November 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a1_e39
001-61313_a1_em46
DATETIME
QUASI
29 November 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a1_e17
001-61313_a1_em47
ORG
NO_MASK
Szczecin Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a1_e40
001-61313_a1_em48
DATETIME
QUASI
10 and 31 May 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a1_e41
001-61313_a1_em49
DATETIME
QUASI
31 May 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e1
001-61313_a4_em1
CODE
DIRECT
52468/99
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-61313_a4_e2
001-61313_a4_em2
ORG
NO_MASK
Republic of Poland
ETHNIC
insert
001-61313_a4_e3
001-61313_a4_em3
DEM
NO_MASK
Polish national
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e4
001-61313_a4_em4
PERSON
DIRECT
Tadeusz Sienkiewicz
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e5
001-61313_a4_em5
DATETIME
QUASI
30 March 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-61313_a4_e6
001-61313_a4_em6
ORG
NO_MASK
Polish Government
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e7
001-61313_a4_em7
PERSON
NO_MASK
Mr K. Drzewicki
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-61313_a4_e8
001-61313_a4_em8
ORG
NO_MASK
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e9
001-61313_a4_em9
DATETIME
NO_MASK
1 November 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e10
001-61313_a4_em10
DATETIME
QUASI
10 September 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e11
001-61313_a4_em11
DATETIME
QUASI
1937
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e12
001-61313_a4_em12
LOC
QUASI
Szczecin, Poland
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e13
001-61313_a4_em13
DATETIME
QUASI
1989
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-61313_a4_e14
001-61313_a4_em14
ORG
NO_MASK
Szczecin District Court (Sąd Rejonowy)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e15
001-61313_a4_em15
DATETIME
QUASI
16 February 1990
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e16
001-61313_a4_em16
DATETIME
QUASI
22 June 1990
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-61313_a4_e17
001-61313_a4_em17
ORG
NO_MASK
Szczecin Regional Court (Sąd Wojewódzki)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e18
001-61313_a4_em18
DATETIME
QUASI
7 June 1993
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e19
001-61313_a4_em19
ORG
NO_MASK
Ombudsman
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e20
001-61313_a4_em20
ORG
NO_MASK
Regional Court’s
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e21
001-61313_a4_em21
DATETIME
QUASI
14 July 1993
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e22
001-61313_a4_em22
ORG
NO_MASK
Supreme Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e23
001-61313_a4_em23
DATETIME
QUASI
28 March 1994
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e14
001-61313_a4_em24
ORG
NO_MASK
001-61313_a4_em14
District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e24
001-61313_a4_em25
DATETIME
QUASI
9 May and 28 November 1994
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e25
001-61313_a4_em26
DATETIME
QUASI
2 and 25 January 1995
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e26
001-61313_a4_em27
DATETIME
QUASI
25 January 1995
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e27
001-61313_a4_em28
DATETIME
QUASI
30 June 1995
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-61313_a4_e17
001-61313_a4_em29
ORG
NO_MASK
001-61313_a4_em17
Szczecin Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e28
001-61313_a4_em30
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court’s
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e29
001-61313_a4_em31
DATETIME
QUASI
2 August 1996
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e19
001-61313_a4_em32
ORG
NO_MASK
Ombudsman
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e30
001-61313_a4_em33
DATETIME
QUASI
13 December 1996
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e22
001-61313_a4_em34
ORG
NO_MASK
Supreme Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e20
001-61313_a4_em35
ORG
NO_MASK
Regional Court’s
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e31
001-61313_a4_em36
DATETIME
QUASI
23 April 1997
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-61313_a4_e14
001-61313_a4_em37
ORG
NO_MASK
001-61313_a4_em14
Szczecin District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e32
001-61313_a4_em38
DATETIME
QUASI
30 June 1997
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e17
001-61313_a4_em39
ORG
NO_MASK
Szczecin Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e33
001-61313_a4_em40
DATETIME
QUASI
21 September 1998
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e14
001-61313_a4_em41
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e34
001-61313_a4_em42
DATETIME
QUASI
22 October 1998
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e35
001-61313_a4_em43
DATETIME
QUASI
26 October 1998
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e36
001-61313_a4_em44
DATETIME
QUASI
17 February 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e17
001-61313_a4_em45
ORG
NO_MASK
Szczecin Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e37
001-61313_a4_em46
DATETIME
QUASI
24 February 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e35
001-61313_a4_em47
DATETIME
QUASI
26 October 1998
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e14
001-61313_a4_em48
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-61313_a4_e38
001-61313_a4_em49
DATETIME
QUASI
23 July, as well as on 15 and 29 November 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e39
001-61313_a4_em50
DATETIME
QUASI
29 November 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e17
001-61313_a4_em51
ORG
NO_MASK
Szczecin Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e40
001-61313_a4_em52
DATETIME
QUASI
10 and 31 May 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61313_a4_e41
001-61313_a4_em53
DATETIME
QUASI
31 May 2000
Tadeusz Sienkiewicz
POL
CHAMBER
Task: Annotate the document to anonymise the following person: Tadeusz Sienkiewicz