PROCEDURE

The case originated in an application (no. 67690/01) 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 Michalina Kruk (“the applicant”), on 2 October 2000.

The Polish Government (“the Government”) were represented by their Agents, Ms S. Jaczewska, and subsequently, Mr J. Wołąsiewicz of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On 9 October 2003 the President of the Fourth Section 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 was decided to examine the merits of the application at the same time as its admissibility.

THE FACTS

The applicant was born in 1939 and lives in Ołdrzychowice, Poland.

A. Facts before 1 May 1993

On 2 April 1985 the applicant applied to the Wrocław District Commission for Mining Damages (Okręgowa Komisja do spraw Szkód Górniczych) for compensation for damage caused to her house.

On 25 September 1985 the Commission dismissed her application.

The applicant appealed against this decision. Subsequently, on 7 July 1987 the Supreme Administrative Court (Naczelny Sąd Administracyjny) and on 24 August 1988 the Appellate Commission for Mining Damage (Odwoławcza Komisja do spraw Szkód Górniczych) quashed previous decisions given in the case.

On 7 April 1992 the District Commission for Mining Damage gave its decision in which it partly allowed the applicant’s action. The applicant appealed against this decision.

B. Facts after 1 May 1993

On 8 December 1993 the Wrocław Regional Commission held a hearing.

On 2 September 1994 a new law entered into force which provided that the civil courts would be competent to examine applications for compensation for mining damage and abolished the Commission for Mining Damage (Ustawa z dnia 4 lutego 1994, Prawo geologiczne i górnicze).

Accordingly, the applicant’s case was transferred to the Świdnica Regional Court (Sąd Wojewódzki).

The first hearing was held on 24 April 1995. The court ordered that an expert opinion be prepared. The opinion was submitted to the court on 26 April 1996.

Subsequently, hearings were held on 18 November 1996, 17 March and 19 September 1997, 13 February 1998 and 10 February 1999. The court ordered several new expert opinions.

On 17 February 1999 the Świdnica Regional Court gave judgment in which it dismissed the applicant’s action.

On 10 March 1999 the applicant lodged an appeal against this judgment.

On 11 May 1999 the Wrocław Court of Appeal quashed the impugned judgment and remitted the case.

On 1 October 1999 the Świdnica Regional Court held a hearing. The trial court ordered that new expert opinions be prepared. The hearing scheduled for 19 January 2000 was adjourned.

At the hearing held on 16 February 2000 the Świdnica Regional Court gave judgment. The court partly allowed the applicant’s action and granted her compensation.

The applicant lodged an appeal against this judgment.

On 31 May 2000 the Wrocław Court of Appeal dismissed her appeal.