PROCEDURE

The case originated in an application (no. 70213/01) 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 four Polish nationals, Mr Maciej Zys-Kowalski, Mrs Danuta Kowalska, Mr Krzysztof Kowalski and Ms Marta Kowalska (“the applicants”), on 10 May 2000.

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

On 28 January 2003 the Court 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 applicants were born in 1975, 1947, 1961 and 1985 respectively and live in Zgierz, Poland.

A. Facts before 1 May 1993

On 8 July 1992 the company with which the applicants had concluded a lease contract sued them for payment before the Łódź Regional Court (Sąd Wojewódzki).

On 9 March 1993 the court held the first hearing.

At a hearing on 6 April 1993 the applicant brought a counterclaim for payment.

On 27 April 1993 the court held a hearing.

B. Facts after 1 May 1993

On 17 March 1994 the court held a hearing.

A hearing scheduled for 21 April 1994 was adjourned because the judge was ill.

A hearing set down for 18 May 1994 was adjourned because witnesses failed to appear.

On 18 January 1995 the applicants sent a letter to the court asking for a hearing date to be fixed.

On 21 June, 10 July and 3 September 1996 and 17 March 1997 were adjourned because the parties had started friendly settlement negotiations.

On 18 June, 28 October and 11 December 1997, 19 February, 20 April and 17 July 1998 the court held hearings.

On an unspecified date in 1999 the composition of the court changed.

On 11 February 1999 the court ordered that expert evidence be obtained. The expert report was submitted to the court on 20 April 1999.

On 9 June, 6 September, 4 October and 20 December 1999 the court held hearings.

On 21 December 1999 the court allowed the plaintiff's claim and dismissed the applicants' counterclaim.

On 19 May 2000 the Łódź Court of Appeal (Sąd Apelacyjny) dismissed the applicants' appeal against the first-instance judgment.

On 30 June 2000 the applicants lodged a cassation appeal.

On 11 January 2002 the Supreme Court (Sąd Najwyższy) refused to deal with the appeal. A copy of the decision was served on the applicants on 27 March 2002.