PROCEDURE

The case originated in an application (no. 22346/02) 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, Mrs Raisa Wróblewska (“the applicant”), on 16 November 2001.

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

On 6 October 2005 the Court decided to communicate the complaint concerning the length of the proceedings to the Government. Applying Article 29 § 3 of the Convention, it decided to rule on the admissibility and merits of the application at the same time.

THE FACTS

I. THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE

The applicant was born in 1941 and lives in Białystok.

A. Facts prior to 1 May 1993

On 8 December 1989 the applicant lodged a motion for the distribution of her parents’ estate with the Białystok District Court.

On 27 July 1990 the court assigned an expert land surveyor to prepare an opinion on the case. His opinion was submitted on 20 August 1990.

On 1 October 1990 the court held a hearing which was adjourned in order to establish the assets of the estate.

On 7 October 1990 the court assigned an expert to establish the value of the estate. He submitted his opinion to the court on 17 December 1990.

The delivery of the judgment was adjourned until 20 February 1991. On that date the hearings in the case were re-opened.

Hearings were held on 14 May, 10 and 24 September 1991.

On 24 September 1991 the court admitted an opinion of an expert in building matters. On 24 October 1991 an inspection of the property was conducted. On 12 November 1991 the expert submitted his opinion.

On 2 December 1991 the court admitted an opinion of another expert land surveyor, which was submitted on 10 December 1991.

On 31 December 1991 the court delivered a decision on the distribution of the estate. The applicant appealed.

On 27 March 1992 the second-instance court quashed the decision and remitted it to the District Court for re-examination.

On 8 October 1992 the court assigned another expert land surveyor.

On 25 March 1993 the court assigned an expert in building matters.

B. Facts after 30 April 1993

The court held hearings on 1 and 15 February and 1 March 1994.

On 1 March 1994 the court admitted another opinion to be prepared by two experts in building matters. The opinion was submitted on 6 June 1994.

On 15 February 1995 the court decided to admit evidence in the form of an inspection of the property to be carried out in the presence of an expert land surveyor. The inspection was conducted on 26 May 1994. On 23 June 1995 the expert opinion was submitted to the court.

On 20 December 1995 the court admitted an additional opinion of an expert land surveyor and of an expert in building matters. The opinion was submitted on 21 January 1996.

On 29 January 1996 the court decided to admit another opinion of an expert land surveyor, which was submitted on 15 February 1996.

On 28 June 1996 the court assigned an expert in agriculture. His opinion was submitted on 6 September 1996.

On 4 April 1997 the court admitted a supplementary opinion of the expert in building matters. It was submitted on 13 May 1997.

A hearing on 22 September 1997 was adjourned in order to hear an expert. Another hearing was scheduled for 27 October 1997.

On 30 December 1997 the court decided to admit an opinion of yet another expert land surveyor to verify the previous opinion.

On 25 June 1998 the Białystok District Court delivered a judgment excluding the applicant from the succession. She appealed.

On 20 October 1998 the Białystok Regional Court dismissed the appeal.

On 31 May 2001 the Supreme Court refused to accept the cassation appeal for examination.