PROCEDURE

The case originated in an application (no. 35785/07) 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 Bogusław Tekiela (“the applicant”), on 23 July 2007.

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

On 3 April 2008 the President of the Fourth Section gave 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 FACTS

I THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE

The applicant was born in 1962 and lives in Ostrów Wielkopolski.

A. Civil proceedings for damages

On 3 February 2003 the applicant instituted civil proceedings for damages against W.U. before the Kielce Regional Court. On 4 February 2003 the case was transferred to the Kraków Regional Court. Hearings before that court were held on 8 May, 3 July, 14 and 23 October 2003. On the last date the court assigned an expert to prepare a report which was submitted to the court on 31 December 2003. Further hearings were scheduled for 20 April and 25 May 2004.

By a judgment of 8 June 2004 the applicant’s claim was dismissed. On 1 December 2004 the appellate court quashed the first-instance judgment and the case was remitted.

A hearing was held on 11 March 2005. On 2 May 2005 the Regional Court admitted evidence based on an expert opinion. The expert’s report was submitted to the court on 19 July 2005. As the parties objected, the court decided that a new expert should be found. However, it could not find one competent to examine the issues involved in the case.

On 29 September 2005 the applicant complained that the proceedings were too lengthy. In October 2005 the court took steps to find an expert, to no avail.

Ultimately the court decided that two experts should give their opinion as it was impossible to find one competent to deal with all aspects of the case. One expert was found and the task of preparing a partial opinion was assigned to him. On 27 January 2006 the case file was sent to him. Another expert was asked to prepare an opinion to complete the first one after he had received the case file with the first report. The full report was submitted to the court on 4 September 2006.

On 2 and 3 October 2006 the parties filed their objections concerning the report. On 19 February and 27 March 2007 hearings were held. On the latter date the applicant modified and extended his claim. The next hearing was scheduled for 8 April 2007. On 23 May 2007 the court gave a judgment and allowed the applicant’s claim in part.

The parties appealed. On 21 November 2007 the Kraków Court of Appeal dismissed both appeals. In February 2008 both parties lodged cassation appeals with the Supreme Court. The case is currently pending before that court.

B. Proceedings under the 2004 Act

On an unspecified date the applicant filed, under the Law of 17 June 2004 (Ustawa o skardze na naruszenie prawa strony do rozpoznania sprawy w postępowaniu sądowym bez nieuzasadnionej zwłoki) (“the 2004 Act”), a complaint about the breach of the right to a fair trial within a reasonable time. He also claimed compensation for the excessive length of the proceedings.

On 29 January 2007 the Kraków Court of Appeal found that from October 2005 until January 2006 the Regional Court had failed to conduct the proceedings expeditiously. It dismissed the applicant’s request to be awarded compensation and ordered the Regional Court to give a judgment on the merits of the case before July 2007.

On 2 April 2007 the court rejected the applicant’s appeal against this decision, finding that no appeal was available in law against it.
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e1
001-90501_a1_em1
CODE
DIRECT
35785/07
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-90501_a1_e2
001-90501_a1_em2
ORG
NO_MASK
Republic of Poland
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90501_a1_e3
001-90501_a1_em3
DEM
NO_MASK
Polish
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e4
001-90501_a1_em4
PERSON
DIRECT
Mr Bogusław Tekiela
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e5
001-90501_a1_em5
DATETIME
QUASI
23 July 2007
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90501_a1_e6
001-90501_a1_em6
ORG
NO_MASK
The Polish Government
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e7
001-90501_a1_em7
PERSON
QUASI
Mr J. Wołąsiewicz
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90501_a1_e8
001-90501_a1_em8
ORG
NO_MASK
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e9
001-90501_a1_em9
DATETIME
QUASI
3 April 2008
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e10
001-90501_a1_em10
DATETIME
QUASI
1962
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e11
001-90501_a1_em11
LOC
QUASI
Ostrów Wielkopolski
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e12
001-90501_a1_em12
DATETIME
QUASI
3 February 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e13
001-90501_a1_em13
ORG
QUASI
Kielce Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e14
001-90501_a1_em14
DATETIME
QUASI
4 February 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e15
001-90501_a1_em15
ORG
NO_MASK
Kraków Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90501_a1_e16
001-90501_a1_em16
DATETIME
QUASI
8 May
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90501_a1_e17
001-90501_a1_em17
DATETIME
QUASI
3 July
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90501_a1_e18
001-90501_a1_em18
DATETIME
QUASI
14 and 23 October 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e19
001-90501_a1_em19
DATETIME
QUASI
31 December 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e20
001-90501_a1_em20
DATETIME
QUASI
20 April
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e21
001-90501_a1_em21
DATETIME
QUASI
25 May 2004
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e22
001-90501_a1_em22
DATETIME
QUASI
8 June 2004
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e23
001-90501_a1_em23
DATETIME
QUASI
1 December 2004
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e24
001-90501_a1_em24
DATETIME
QUASI
11 March 2005
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e25
001-90501_a1_em25
DATETIME
QUASI
2 May 2005
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e26
001-90501_a1_em26
ORG
NO_MASK
Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e27
001-90501_a1_em27
DATETIME
QUASI
19 July 2005
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90501_a1_e28
001-90501_a1_em28
DATETIME
QUASI
29 September 2005
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e29
001-90501_a1_em29
DATETIME
QUASI
October 2005
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e30
001-90501_a1_em30
DATETIME
QUASI
27 January 2006
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e31
001-90501_a1_em31
DATETIME
QUASI
4 September 2006
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e32
001-90501_a1_em32
DATETIME
QUASI
3 October 2006
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e33
001-90501_a1_em33
DATETIME
QUASI
19 February
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e34
001-90501_a1_em34
DATETIME
QUASI
27 March 2007
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e35
001-90501_a1_em35
DATETIME
QUASI
8 April 2007
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e36
001-90501_a1_em36
DATETIME
QUASI
23 May 2007
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e37
001-90501_a1_em37
DATETIME
QUASI
21 November 2007
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e38
001-90501_a1_em38
ORG
NO_MASK
Kraków Court of Appeal
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e39
001-90501_a1_em39
DATETIME
QUASI
February 2008
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e40
001-90501_a1_em40
ORG
NO_MASK
Supreme Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e41
001-90501_a1_em41
DATETIME
NO_MASK
17 June 2004
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e42
001-90501_a1_em42
DATETIME
QUASI
29 January 2007
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e38
001-90501_a1_em43
ORG
NO_MASK
Kraków Court of Appeal
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e29
001-90501_a1_em44
DATETIME
QUASI
October 2005
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e43
001-90501_a1_em45
DATETIME
QUASI
January 2006
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e26
001-90501_a1_em46
ORG
NO_MASK
Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e26
001-90501_a1_em47
ORG
NO_MASK
Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e44
001-90501_a1_em48
DATETIME
QUASI
July 2007
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a1_e45
001-90501_a1_em49
DATETIME
QUASI
2 April 2007
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a4_e1
001-90501_a4_em1
CODE
DIRECT
35785/07
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-90501_a4_e2
001-90501_a4_em2
ORG
NO_MASK
Republic of Poland
ETHNIC
insert
001-90501_a4_e3
001-90501_a4_em3
DEM
NO_MASK
Polish national
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a4_e4
001-90501_a4_em4
PERSON
DIRECT
Mr Bogusław Tekiela
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a4_e5
001-90501_a4_em5
DATETIME
QUASI
23 July 2007
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90501_a4_e6
001-90501_a4_em6
ORG
NO_MASK
Polish Government
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a4_e7
001-90501_a4_em7
PERSON
NO_MASK
Mr J. Wołąsiewicz
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90501_a4_e8
001-90501_a4_em8
ORG
NO_MASK
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a4_e9
001-90501_a4_em9
DATETIME
QUASI
3 April 2008
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a4_e10
001-90501_a4_em10
DATETIME
QUASI
1962
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a4_e11
001-90501_a4_em11
LOC
QUASI
Ostrów Wielkopolski
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a4_e12
001-90501_a4_em12
DATETIME
QUASI
3 February 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-90501_a4_e13
001-90501_a4_em13
PERSON
QUASI
W.U.
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a4_e14
001-90501_a4_em14
ORG
QUASI
Kielce Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a4_e15
001-90501_a4_em15
DATETIME
QUASI
4 February 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a4_e16
001-90501_a4_em16
ORG
NO_MASK
Kraków Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90501_a4_e17
001-90501_a4_em17
DATETIME
QUASI
8 May, 3 July, 14 and 23 October 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a4_e18
001-90501_a4_em18
DATETIME
QUASI
31 December 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90501_a4_e19
001-90501_a4_em19
DATETIME
QUASI
20 April and 25 May 2004
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a4_e20
001-90501_a4_em20
DATETIME
QUASI
8 June 2004
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a4_e21
001-90501_a4_em21
DATETIME
QUASI
1 December 2004
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a4_e22
001-90501_a4_em22
DATETIME
QUASI
11 March 2005
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a4_e23
001-90501_a4_em23
DATETIME
QUASI
2 May 2005
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a4_e24
001-90501_a4_em24
ORG
NO_MASK
Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a4_e25
001-90501_a4_em25
DATETIME
QUASI
19 July 2005
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90501_a4_e26
001-90501_a4_em26
DATETIME
QUASI
29 September 2005
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a4_e27
001-90501_a4_em27
DATETIME
QUASI
October 2005
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a4_e28
001-90501_a4_em28
DATETIME
QUASI
27 January 2006
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a4_e29
001-90501_a4_em29
DATETIME
QUASI
4 September 2006
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90501_a4_e30
001-90501_a4_em30
DATETIME
QUASI
2 and 3 October 2006
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90501_a4_e31
001-90501_a4_em31
DATETIME
QUASI
19 February and 27 March 2007
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a4_e32
001-90501_a4_em32
DATETIME
QUASI
8 April 2007
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a4_e33
001-90501_a4_em33
DATETIME
QUASI
23 May 2007
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a4_e34
001-90501_a4_em34
DATETIME
QUASI
21 November 2007
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a4_e35
001-90501_a4_em35
ORG
NO_MASK
Kraków Court of Appeal
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a4_e36
001-90501_a4_em36
DATETIME
QUASI
February 2008
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a4_e37
001-90501_a4_em37
ORG
NO_MASK
Supreme Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a4_e38
001-90501_a4_em38
DATETIME
QUASI
29 January 2007
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a4_e35
001-90501_a4_em39
ORG
NO_MASK
Kraków Court of Appeal
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a4_e27
001-90501_a4_em40
DATETIME
QUASI
October 2005
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a4_e39
001-90501_a4_em41
DATETIME
QUASI
January 2006
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a4_e24
001-90501_a4_em42
ORG
NO_MASK
Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a4_e24
001-90501_a4_em43
ORG
NO_MASK
Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a4_e40
001-90501_a4_em44
DATETIME
QUASI
July 2007
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a4_e41
001-90501_a4_em45
DATETIME
QUASI
2 April 2007
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a6_e1
001-90501_a6_em1
CODE
DIRECT
35785/07
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-90501_a6_e2
001-90501_a6_em2
ORG
NO_MASK
Republic of Poland
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a6_e2
001-90501_a6_em3
DEM
QUASI
Polish
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a6_e3
001-90501_a6_em4
PERSON
DIRECT
Mr Bogusław Tekiela
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a6_e4
001-90501_a6_em5
DATETIME
QUASI
23 July 2007
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-90501_a6_e2
001-90501_a6_em6
ORG
NO_MASK
001-90501_a6_em2
Polish
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a6_e5
001-90501_a6_em7
PERSON
QUASI
Mr J. Wołąsiewicz
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a6_e6
001-90501_a6_em8
DATETIME
QUASI
3 April 2008
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a6_e7
001-90501_a6_em9
DATETIME
QUASI
1962
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a6_e8
001-90501_a6_em10
LOC
QUASI
Ostrów Wielkopolski
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a6_e9
001-90501_a6_em11
DATETIME
QUASI
3 February 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-90501_a6_e10
001-90501_a6_em12
PERSON
QUASI
W.U.
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a6_e11
001-90501_a6_em13
ORG
NO_MASK
Kielce Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a6_e12
001-90501_a6_em14
DATETIME
QUASI
4 February 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a6_e13
001-90501_a6_em15
ORG
NO_MASK
Kraków Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90501_a6_e14
001-90501_a6_em16
DATETIME
QUASI
8 May, 3 July, 14 and 23 October 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a6_e15
001-90501_a6_em17
DATETIME
QUASI
31 December 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90501_a6_e16
001-90501_a6_em18
DATETIME
QUASI
20 April and 25 May 2004
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a6_e17
001-90501_a6_em19
DATETIME
QUASI
8 June 2004
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a6_e18
001-90501_a6_em20
DATETIME
QUASI
1 December 2004
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a6_e19
001-90501_a6_em21
DATETIME
QUASI
11 March 2005
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a6_e20
001-90501_a6_em22
DATETIME
QUASI
2 May 2005
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a6_e21
001-90501_a6_em23
ORG
NO_MASK
Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a6_e22
001-90501_a6_em24
DATETIME
QUASI
19 July 2005
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90501_a6_e23
001-90501_a6_em25
DATETIME
QUASI
29 September 2005
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a6_e24
001-90501_a6_em26
DATETIME
QUASI
October 2005
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a6_e25
001-90501_a6_em27
DATETIME
QUASI
27 January 2006
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a6_e26
001-90501_a6_em28
DATETIME
QUASI
4 September 2006
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90501_a6_e27
001-90501_a6_em29
DATETIME
QUASI
2 and 3 October 2006
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-90501_a6_e28
001-90501_a6_em30
DATETIME
QUASI
19 February and 27 March 2007
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a6_e29
001-90501_a6_em31
DATETIME
QUASI
8 April 2007
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a6_e30
001-90501_a6_em32
DATETIME
QUASI
23 May 2007
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a6_e31
001-90501_a6_em33
DATETIME
QUASI
21 November 2007
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a6_e32
001-90501_a6_em34
ORG
NO_MASK
Kraków Court of Appeal
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a6_e33
001-90501_a6_em35
DATETIME
QUASI
February 2008
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a6_e34
001-90501_a6_em36
ORG
NO_MASK
Supreme Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a6_e35
001-90501_a6_em37
DATETIME
QUASI
29 January 2007
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a6_e32
001-90501_a6_em38
ORG
NO_MASK
Kraków Court of Appeal
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a6_e24
001-90501_a6_em39
DATETIME
QUASI
October 2005
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a6_e36
001-90501_a6_em40
DATETIME
QUASI
January 2006
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a6_e21
001-90501_a6_em41
ORG
NO_MASK
Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a6_e21
001-90501_a6_em42
ORG
NO_MASK
Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a6_e37
001-90501_a6_em43
DATETIME
QUASI
July 2007
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-90501_a6_e38
001-90501_a6_em44
DATETIME
QUASI
2 April 2007
Bogusław Tekiela
POL
CHAMBER
Task: Annotate the document to anonymise the following person: Bogusław Tekiela