PROCEDURE

The case originated in an application (no. 22072/02) 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 Sławomir Małasiewicz (“the applicant”), on 25 May 2002.

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

On 17 December 2002 the Fourth Section declared the application partly inadmissible and decided to communicate the complaint concerning the length of the proceedings 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.

THE FACTS

The applicant was born in 1966 and lives in Częstochowa, Poland.

In June 1995, on his way to work, the applicant bought a bottle of sparkling mineral water. While he was opening it, the bottle exploded and its metal cap hit the applicant’s left eye. The accident, despite the subsequent surgeries and medical treatment, resulted in the applicant’s loss of vision in his left eye. He was declared an invalid and was granted a disability pension by the Social Security Board (Zakład Ubezpieczeń Społecznych).

In August 1997 the applicant instituted civil proceedings for compensation and pension against the producer of the mineral water. He submitted medical certificates issued by the Częstochowa and Katowice Hospitals which treated his injury.

On 23 October 1997 the Częstochowa Regional Court (Sąd Wojewódzki w Częstochowie) exempted the applicant from the court fees.

On 15 November and 15 December 1997 the trial court held hearings.

In December 1997 the “S” assurance company joined the proceedings as an intervener.

In 1998 the trial court held four hearings at which it heard witnesses.

On 8 December 1998 the court, sitting in camera, ordered a medical expert opinion.

On 18 May 1999 the court received the opinion.

On 25 May 1999 the court, sitting in camera, ordered the Social Security Board to provide a copy of the applicant’s file.

Between 24 November 1998 and 7 September 1999 no hearings were held.

At the subsequent hearings held on 8 September 1999, 12 January and 14 June 2000 the court heard witnesses and ordered the preparation of new expert opinions.

On 13 December 2000 the trial court held a hearing at which it asked for another expert medical opinion to be prepared.

On 10 April 2001 the court received the expert opinion. The intervener challenged it.

At the hearing held on 20 June 2001 the court requested an expert opinion concerning the applicant’s pension.

The expert submitted the opinion on 31 January 2002. Again, the intervener challenged the opinion.

The next hearing, which was held on 20 March 2002, was adjourned sine die. The court ordered another expert opinion.

On 24 May 2002 the opinion was submitted to the court. Subsequently, the intervener challenged it.

On 27 September 2002 the trial court held a hearing.

On 30 September 2002 the Częstochowa Regional Court gave judgment. The defendant was found liable for the damage sustained by the applicant. The court awarded the applicant PLN 85,000 in compensation but dismissed his claim for pension.

Both parties appealed against this judgment.

On 4 April 2003 the applicant was exempted from the court-fees in the appeal procedure. The proceedings are pending before the Court of Appeal.
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61365_a1_e1
001-61365_a1_em1
CODE
DIRECT
22072/02
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61365_a1_e2
001-61365_a1_em2
ORG
NO_MASK
Republic of Poland
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insert
001-61365_a1_e3
001-61365_a1_em3
DEM
NO_MASK
Polish
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001-61365_a1_e4
001-61365_a1_em4
PERSON
DIRECT
Mr Sławomir Małasiewicz
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001-61365_a1_e5
001-61365_a1_em5
DATETIME
QUASI
25 May 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-61365_a1_e6
001-61365_a1_em6
ORG
NO_MASK
Polish Government
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61365_a1_e7
001-61365_a1_em7
PERSON
QUASI
Mr K. Drzewicki
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61365_a1_e8
001-61365_a1_em8
DATETIME
QUASI
17 December 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61365_a1_e9
001-61365_a1_em9
DATETIME
QUASI
1966
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61365_a1_e10
001-61365_a1_em10
LOC
QUASI
Częstochowa, Poland
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61365_a1_e11
001-61365_a1_em11
DATETIME
QUASI
June 1995
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-61365_a1_e12
001-61365_a1_em12
MISC
QUASI
bottle exploded and its metal cap hit the applicant’s left eye
HEALTH
insert
001-61365_a1_e13
001-61365_a1_em13
DEM
NO_MASK
surgeries
HEALTH
insert
001-61365_a1_e14
001-61365_a1_em14
DEM
NO_MASK
medical treatment
HEALTH
insert
001-61365_a1_e15
001-61365_a1_em15
DEM
QUASI
loss of vision in his left eye
HEALTH
insert
001-61365_a1_e16
001-61365_a1_em16
DEM
NO_MASK
invalid
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-61365_a1_e17
001-61365_a1_em17
ORG
NO_MASK
Social Security Board (Zakład Ubezpieczeń Społecznych)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61365_a1_e18
001-61365_a1_em18
DATETIME
QUASI
August 1997
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001-61365_a1_e19
001-61365_a1_em19
ORG
QUASI
Częstochowa
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001-61365_a1_e20
001-61365_a1_em20
ORG
QUASI
Katowice Hospitals
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001-61365_a1_e21
001-61365_a1_em21
DATETIME
QUASI
23 October 1997
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-61365_a1_e22
001-61365_a1_em22
ORG
QUASI
Częstochowa Regional Court (Sąd Wojewódzki w Częstochowie)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-61365_a1_e23
001-61365_a1_em23
DATETIME
QUASI
15 November
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-61365_a1_e24
001-61365_a1_em24
DATETIME
QUASI
15 December 1997
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001-61365_a1_e25
001-61365_a1_em25
DATETIME
QUASI
December 1997
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001-61365_a1_e26
001-61365_a1_em26
DATETIME
QUASI
1998
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-61365_a1_e27
001-61365_a1_em27
DATETIME
QUASI
8 December 1998
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-61365_a1_e28
001-61365_a1_em28
DATETIME
QUASI
18 May 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61365_a1_e29
001-61365_a1_em29
DATETIME
QUASI
25 May 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-61365_a1_e17
001-61365_a1_em30
ORG
NO_MASK
001-61365_a1_em17
Social Security Board
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-61365_a1_e30
001-61365_a1_em31
DATETIME
QUASI
Between 24 November 1998 and 7 September 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-61365_a1_e31
001-61365_a1_em32
DATETIME
QUASI
8 September 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-61365_a1_e32
001-61365_a1_em33
DATETIME
QUASI
12 January
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-61365_a1_e33
001-61365_a1_em34
DATETIME
QUASI
14 June 2000
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001-61365_a1_e34
001-61365_a1_em35
DATETIME
QUASI
13 December 2000
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001-61365_a1_e35
001-61365_a1_em36
DATETIME
QUASI
10 April 2001
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001-61365_a1_e36
001-61365_a1_em37
DATETIME
QUASI
20 June 2001
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001-61365_a1_e37
001-61365_a1_em38
DATETIME
QUASI
31 January 2002
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001-61365_a1_e38
001-61365_a1_em39
DATETIME
QUASI
20 March 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-61365_a1_e39
001-61365_a1_em40
DATETIME
QUASI
24 May 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-61365_a1_e40
001-61365_a1_em41
DATETIME
QUASI
27 September 2002
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001-61365_a1_e41
001-61365_a1_em42
DATETIME
QUASI
30 September 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-61365_a1_e22
001-61365_a1_em43
ORG
QUASI
001-61365_a1_em22
Częstochowa Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-61365_a1_e42
001-61365_a1_em44
QUANTITY
QUASI
PLN 85,000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-61365_a1_e43
001-61365_a1_em45
DATETIME
QUASI
4 April 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-61365_a1_e44
001-61365_a1_em46
ORG
NO_MASK
Court of Appeal
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61365_a4_e1
001-61365_a4_em1
CODE
DIRECT
22072/02
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-61365_a4_e2
001-61365_a4_em2
ORG
NO_MASK
Republic of Poland
ETHNIC
insert
001-61365_a4_e3
001-61365_a4_em3
DEM
NO_MASK
Polish national
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001-61365_a4_e4
001-61365_a4_em4
PERSON
DIRECT
Mr Sławomir Małasiewicz
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001-61365_a4_e5
001-61365_a4_em5
DATETIME
QUASI
25 May 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-61365_a4_e6
001-61365_a4_em6
ORG
NO_MASK
Polish Government
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-61365_a4_e7
001-61365_a4_em7
PERSON
QUASI
Mr K. Drzewicki
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001-61365_a4_e8
001-61365_a4_em8
ORG
NO_MASK
Ministry of the Foreign Affairs
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001-61365_a4_e9
001-61365_a4_em9
DATETIME
QUASI
17 December 2002
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001-61365_a4_e10
001-61365_a4_em10
DATETIME
QUASI
1966
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-61365_a4_e11
001-61365_a4_em11
LOC
QUASI
Częstochowa, Poland
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-61365_a4_e12
001-61365_a4_em12
DATETIME
QUASI
June 1995
HEALTH
insert
001-61365_a4_e13
001-61365_a4_em13
MISC
NO_MASK
surgeries and medical treatment
HEALTH
insert
001-61365_a4_e14
001-61365_a4_em14
MISC
NO_MASK
loss of vision in his left eye
HEALTH
insert
001-61365_a4_e15
001-61365_a4_em15
MISC
NO_MASK
invalid
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-61365_a4_e16
001-61365_a4_em16
ORG
NO_MASK
Social Security Board (Zakład Ubezpieczeń Społecznych)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61365_a4_e17
001-61365_a4_em17
DATETIME
QUASI
August 1997
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-61365_a4_e18
001-61365_a4_em18
ORG
QUASI
Częstochowa and Katowice Hospitals
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61365_a4_e19
001-61365_a4_em19
DATETIME
QUASI
23 October 1997
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-61365_a4_e20
001-61365_a4_em20
ORG
NO_MASK
Częstochowa Regional Court (Sąd Wojewódzki w Częstochowie)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61365_a4_e21
001-61365_a4_em21
DATETIME
QUASI
15 November and 15 December 1997
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-61365_a4_e22
001-61365_a4_em22
DATETIME
QUASI
December 1997
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-61365_a4_e23
001-61365_a4_em23
ORG
QUASI
“S”
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-61365_a4_e24
001-61365_a4_em24
DATETIME
QUASI
1998
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-61365_a4_e25
001-61365_a4_em25
DATETIME
QUASI
8 December 1998
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-61365_a4_e26
001-61365_a4_em26
DATETIME
QUASI
18 May 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-61365_a4_e27
001-61365_a4_em27
DATETIME
QUASI
25 May 1999
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-61365_a4_e16
001-61365_a4_em28
ORG
NO_MASK
001-61365_a4_em16
Social Security Board
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-61365_a4_e28
001-61365_a4_em29
DATETIME
QUASI
24 November 1998
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-61365_a4_e29
001-61365_a4_em30
DATETIME
QUASI
7 September 1999
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001-61365_a4_e30
001-61365_a4_em31
DATETIME
QUASI
8 September 1999
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001-61365_a4_e31
001-61365_a4_em32
DATETIME
QUASI
12 January and 14 June 2000
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001-61365_a4_e32
001-61365_a4_em33
DATETIME
QUASI
13 December 2000
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001-61365_a4_e33
001-61365_a4_em34
DATETIME
QUASI
10 April 2001
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001-61365_a4_e34
001-61365_a4_em35
DATETIME
QUASI
20 June 2001
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001-61365_a4_e35
001-61365_a4_em36
DATETIME
QUASI
31 January 2002
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001-61365_a4_e36
001-61365_a4_em37
DATETIME
QUASI
20 March 2002
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001-61365_a4_e37
001-61365_a4_em38
DATETIME
QUASI
24 May 2002
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001-61365_a4_e38
001-61365_a4_em39
DATETIME
QUASI
27 September 2002
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001-61365_a4_e39
001-61365_a4_em40
DATETIME
QUASI
30 September 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-61365_a4_e20
001-61365_a4_em41
ORG
NO_MASK
001-61365_a4_em20
Częstochowa Regional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-61365_a4_e40
001-61365_a4_em42
QUANTITY
QUASI
PLN 85,000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-61365_a4_e41
001-61365_a4_em43
DATETIME
QUASI
4 April 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-61365_a4_e42
001-61365_a4_em44
ORG
NO_MASK
Court of Appeal
Sławomir Małasiewicz
POL
CHAMBER
Task: Annotate the document to anonymise the following person: Sławomir Małasiewicz