PROCEDURE

The case originated in an application (no. 77746/01) 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 Waleria Kroenitz (“the applicant”), on 28 July 2000.

The Polish Government (“the Government”) were represented by their Agent, Mr K. Drzewicki, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The applicant was exceptionally granted leave to be represented by Mr Cz. Sławski (Rule 36 § 4 of the Rules of Court). The latter was also granted leave to use the Polish language in the proceedings before the Court (Rule 34 § 3 of the Rules of Court).

The applicant alleged in particular, that her right to a “hearing within reasonable time” had not been respected.

The application was allocated to the Fourth Section of the 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. On 30 April the Fourth Section decided to communicate the complaint concerning the length of the proceedings and an alleged interference with the applicant’s property rights 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, Mrs Waleria Kroenitz, is a Polish national, who was born in 1903 and lives in Przemyśl, Poland.

A. Proceedings concerning a claim for restitution and compensation.

In 1948 the applicant’s property was expropriated. On 28 June 1996 the Minister of Economy (Minister Gospodarki) annulled the expropriation order.

On 23 December 1996 the applicant brought a claim against a company “Domgos” (Częstochowskie Zakłady Metalowe “Domgos”) before the Częstochowa Regional Court (Sąd Wojewódzki), seeking restitution of her property. The court held hearings on 30 May, 10 July and 17 October 1997.

On 30 January 1998 the applicant modified her claim and filed an action for compensation for loss of profits caused by the prolonged impossibility of using her property.

On 8 March 1999 the Częstochowa Regional Court held a hearing and gave an interlocutory judgment. It ordered that the property be restored to the applicant.

On 9 December 1999 the court was to hold a hearing, but an expert failed to appear because he had not been duly summoned. On 27 January 2000 and 23 March 2000 the court held further hearings.

A hearing listed for 15 February 2001 was cancelled since the expert and the defendant failed to appear.

The hearing listed for 29 March 2001 was adjourned as the court had ordered the expert to prepare a supplementary report. On 21 February 2002 the court held a hearing.

On 8 March 2002 the Regional Court gave judgment and awarded the applicant compensation. Following the defendant’s appeal, the proceedings are pending before the Court of Appeal (Sąd Apelacyjny).

B. Proceedings concerning a claim for compensation against the State Treasury.

On 26 April 1998 the applicant asked the Minister of Economy to award her compensation. On 22 May 1998 the Minister dismissed her request.

On 24 June 1998 the applicant filed with the Warsaw Regional Court an action for compensation against the State Treasury the Minister of Economy. The court held hearings on 19 November 1999 and 22 September 2000.

On 22 September 2000 the court gave judgment and dismissed the applicant’s claim. The applicant appealed.

On 24 January and 7 March 2002 the Warsaw Court of Appeal (Sąd Apelacyjny) held hearings. On the latter date the court gave judgment. The applicant did not lodge a cassation appeal with the Supreme Court (Sąd Najwyższy).
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a1_e1
001-60945_a1_em1
CODE
DIRECT
77746/01
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a1_e2
001-60945_a1_em2
ORG
NO_MASK
Republic of Poland
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-60945_a1_e3
001-60945_a1_em3
DEM
NO_MASK
Polish
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a1_e4
001-60945_a1_em4
PERSON
DIRECT
Mrs Waleria Kroenitz
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a1_e5
001-60945_a1_em5
DATETIME
QUASI
28 July 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-60945_a1_e6
001-60945_a1_em6
ORG
NO_MASK
Polish Government
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a1_e7
001-60945_a1_em7
PERSON
QUASI
Mr K. Drzewicki
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-60945_a1_e8
001-60945_a1_em8
PERSON
QUASI
Mr Cz. Sławski
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a1_e3
001-60945_a1_em9
DEM
NO_MASK
Polish
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-60945_a1_e9
001-60945_a1_em10
DATETIME
QUASI
30 April
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a1_e4
001-60945_a1_em11
PERSON
DIRECT
Mrs Waleria Kroenitz
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a1_e3
001-60945_a1_em12
DEM
NO_MASK
Polish
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a1_e10
001-60945_a1_em13
DATETIME
QUASI
1903
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a1_e11
001-60945_a1_em14
LOC
QUASI
Przemyśl, Poland
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a1_e12
001-60945_a1_em15
DATETIME
QUASI
1948
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a1_e13
001-60945_a1_em16
DATETIME
QUASI
28 June 1996
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-60945_a1_e14
001-60945_a1_em17
DEM
NO_MASK
Minister of Economy (Minister Gospodarki)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a1_e15
001-60945_a1_em18
DEM
NO_MASK
Minister
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a1_e16
001-60945_a1_em19
DATETIME
QUASI
23 December 1996
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-60945_a1_e17
001-60945_a1_em20
ORG
QUASI
“Domgos” (Częstochowskie Zakłady Metalowe “Domgos”)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-60945_a1_e18
001-60945_a1_em21
ORG
QUASI
Częstochowa Regional Court (Sąd Wojewódzki)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-60945_a1_e19
001-60945_a1_em22
DATETIME
QUASI
30 May
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-60945_a1_e20
001-60945_a1_em23
DATETIME
QUASI
10 July
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a1_e21
001-60945_a1_em24
DATETIME
QUASI
17 October 1997
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a1_e22
001-60945_a1_em25
DATETIME
QUASI
30 January 1998
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a1_e23
001-60945_a1_em26
DATETIME
QUASI
8 March 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-60945_a1_e18
001-60945_a1_em27
ORG
QUASI
001-60945_a1_em21
Częstochowa Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a1_e24
001-60945_a1_em28
DATETIME
QUASI
9 December 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a1_e25
001-60945_a1_em29
DATETIME
QUASI
27 January 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a1_e26
001-60945_a1_em30
DATETIME
QUASI
23 March 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a1_e27
001-60945_a1_em31
DATETIME
QUASI
15 February 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a1_e28
001-60945_a1_em32
DATETIME
QUASI
29 March 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a1_e29
001-60945_a1_em33
DATETIME
QUASI
21 February 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a1_e30
001-60945_a1_em34
DATETIME
QUASI
8 March 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-60945_a1_e18
001-60945_a1_em35
ORG
NO_MASK
001-60945_a1_em21
Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-60945_a1_e31
001-60945_a1_em36
ORG
NO_MASK
Court of Appeal (Sąd Apelacyjny)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a1_e32
001-60945_a1_em37
ORG
NO_MASK
State Treasury
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a1_e33
001-60945_a1_em38
DATETIME
QUASI
26 April 1998
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-60945_a1_e15
001-60945_a1_em39
DEM
NO_MASK
Minister of Economy
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a1_e34
001-60945_a1_em40
DATETIME
QUASI
22 May 1998
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-60945_a1_e15
001-60945_a1_em41
DEM
NO_MASK
001-60945_a1_em39
Minister
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a1_e35
001-60945_a1_em42
DATETIME
QUASI
24 June 1998
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a1_e36
001-60945_a1_em43
ORG
NO_MASK
Warsaw Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a1_e32
001-60945_a1_em44
ORG
NO_MASK
State Treasury
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a1_e15
001-60945_a1_em45
DEM
NO_MASK
Minister of Economy
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a1_e37
001-60945_a1_em46
DATETIME
QUASI
19 November 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a1_e38
001-60945_a1_em47
DATETIME
QUASI
22 September 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a1_e38
001-60945_a1_em48
DATETIME
QUASI
22 September 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-60945_a1_e39
001-60945_a1_em49
DATETIME
QUASI
24 January
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-60945_a1_e40
001-60945_a1_em50
DATETIME
QUASI
7 March 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-60945_a1_e41
001-60945_a1_em51
ORG
NO_MASK
Warsaw Court of Appeal (Sąd Apelacyjny)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-60945_a1_e42
001-60945_a1_em52
ORG
NO_MASK
Supreme Court (Sąd Najwyższy)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e1
001-60945_a6_em1
CODE
DIRECT
77746/01
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-60945_a6_e2
001-60945_a6_em2
ORG
NO_MASK
Republic of Poland
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-60945_a6_e2
001-60945_a6_em3
DEM
QUASI
Polish
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e3
001-60945_a6_em4
PERSON
DIRECT
Mrs Waleria Kroenitz
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e4
001-60945_a6_em5
DATETIME
QUASI
28 July 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-60945_a6_e2
001-60945_a6_em6
ORG
NO_MASK
001-60945_a6_em2
Polish
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e5
001-60945_a6_em7
PERSON
QUASI
Mr K. Drzewicki
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-60945_a6_e6
001-60945_a6_em8
PERSON
QUASI
Mr Cz. Sławski
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e2
001-60945_a6_em9
DEM
QUASI
Polish
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e7
001-60945_a6_em10
DATETIME
QUASI
30 April
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e3
001-60945_a6_em11
PERSON
DIRECT
Mrs Waleria Kroenitz
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e2
001-60945_a6_em12
DEM
QUASI
Polish
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e8
001-60945_a6_em13
DATETIME
QUASI
1903
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e9
001-60945_a6_em14
LOC
QUASI
Przemyśl, Poland
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e10
001-60945_a6_em15
DATETIME
QUASI
1948
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e11
001-60945_a6_em16
DATETIME
QUASI
28 June 1996
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-60945_a6_e12
001-60945_a6_em17
ORG
NO_MASK
Minister of Economy
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-60945_a6_e12
001-60945_a6_em18
ORG
NO_MASK
001-60945_a6_em17
(Minister Gospodarki)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e13
001-60945_a6_em19
DATETIME
QUASI
23 December 1996
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e14
001-60945_a6_em20
ORG
QUASI
Domgos
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-60945_a6_e14
001-60945_a6_em21
ORG
QUASI
001-60945_a6_em20
Częstochowskie Zakłady Metalowe “Domgos”
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e15
001-60945_a6_em22
ORG
NO_MASK
Częstochowa Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-60945_a6_e15
001-60945_a6_em23
ORG
NO_MASK
001-60945_a6_em22
Sąd Wojewódzki
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-60945_a6_e16
001-60945_a6_em24
DATETIME
QUASI
30 May, 10 July and 17 October 1997
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e17
001-60945_a6_em25
DATETIME
QUASI
30 January 1998
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e18
001-60945_a6_em26
DATETIME
QUASI
8 March 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e15
001-60945_a6_em27
ORG
NO_MASK
Częstochowa Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e19
001-60945_a6_em28
DATETIME
QUASI
9 December 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e20
001-60945_a6_em29
DATETIME
QUASI
27 January 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e21
001-60945_a6_em30
DATETIME
QUASI
23 March 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e22
001-60945_a6_em31
DATETIME
QUASI
15 February 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e23
001-60945_a6_em32
DATETIME
QUASI
29 March 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e24
001-60945_a6_em33
DATETIME
QUASI
21 February 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e25
001-60945_a6_em34
DATETIME
QUASI
8 March 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e15
001-60945_a6_em35
ORG
NO_MASK
001-60945_a6_em22
Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-60945_a6_e26
001-60945_a6_em36
ORG
NO_MASK
the Court of Appeal
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-60945_a6_e26
001-60945_a6_em37
ORG
NO_MASK
001-60945_a6_em36
Sąd Apelacyjny
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e27
001-60945_a6_em38
ORG
NO_MASK
State Treasury
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e28
001-60945_a6_em39
DATETIME
QUASI
26 April 1998
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e12
001-60945_a6_em40
ORG
NO_MASK
Minister of Economy
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e29
001-60945_a6_em41
DATETIME
QUASI
22 May 1998
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e30
001-60945_a6_em42
DATETIME
QUASI
24 June 1998
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e31
001-60945_a6_em43
ORG
NO_MASK
Warsaw Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e27
001-60945_a6_em44
ORG
NO_MASK
State Treasury
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e12
001-60945_a6_em45
ORG
NO_MASK
Minister of Economy
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e32
001-60945_a6_em46
DATETIME
QUASI
19 November 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e33
001-60945_a6_em47
DATETIME
QUASI
22 September 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e33
001-60945_a6_em48
DATETIME
QUASI
22 September 2000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e34
001-60945_a6_em49
DATETIME
QUASI
24 January and 7 March 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e26
001-60945_a6_em50
ORG
NO_MASK
Warsaw Court of Appeal
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-60945_a6_e26
001-60945_a6_em51
ORG
NO_MASK
001-60945_a6_em50
Sąd Apelacyjny
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-60945_a6_e35
001-60945_a6_em52
ORG
NO_MASK
Supreme Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-60945_a6_e35
001-60945_a6_em53
ORG
NO_MASK
001-60945_a6_em52
Sąd Najwyższy
Waleria Kroenitz
POL
CHAMBER
Task: Annotate the document to anonymise the following person: Waleria Kroenitz