8.  The applicant was born in 1954 and lives in Świecie, Poland. 9.  Between 1977 and 1992 the applicant ran a cake shop on premises leased from the Association of the Landlords and Administrators of Houses in Świecie (Zrzeszenie Właścicieli i Zarządców Domów) (“the Association”). On an unknown date in 1991 the Świecie District Court (Sąd Rejonowy) ordered his eviction. 10.  On 10 December 1992 the applicant sued the Association in the Bydgoszcz Regional Court (Sąd Wojewódzki), seeking the return of expenses incurred in connection with the modernisation of his business premises. On 3 February 1993 the court partly exempted the applicant from court fees. Subsequently, the case was assigned to another judge. 11.  The hearing listed for 30 June 1993 was adjourned. The court held hearings on 6 October and 16 December 1993. At the hearing held on 1 April 1994 the court ordered that expert evidence be obtained. On 6 June 1994 the expert report was submitted to the court. 12.  On 27 September 1994 the applicant modified his claim. On 5 January 1995, upon the applicant’s request, the court joined S.C., B.M. and T.R., the co-owners of the property, to the proceedings as the defendant parties. 13.  The court held hearings on 30 January and 13 May 1995. Later, the case had to be re-opened due to the change of the presiding judge. The hearings listed for 13 July and 30 October 1995 were adjourned. 14.  On 5 February 1996 the applicant requested that the court issue an interim order to safeguard his claim in the proceedings, until a judgment on the merits was given. On 10 June 1996 the trial court granted the applicant’s request. 15.  On 13 March and 12 April 1996 the court held further hearings. 16.  On 1 August 1996 the case was referred to a new presiding judge. 17.  On 6 February 1997, on the defendant’s interim appeal, the Gdańsk Court of Appeal (Sąd Apelacyjny) set aside the first-instance order of 10 June 1996. 
18  On 28 May 1997 the court held a hearing. The hearing listed for 9 September 1997 was adjourned. On 23 October 1997 the court held a viewing of the site. A further hearing was held on 28 January 1998. 19.  On 11 February 1998 the Bydgoszcz Regional Court gave its judgment. The applicant appealed on 21 April 1998. On 9 October 1998 the Gdańsk Court of Appeal held a hearing. On 23 October 1998 the Court of Appeal quashed the first-instance judgment and remitted the case. 20.  On 9 April 1999 the Regional Court ordered that the applicant specify his claims and adduce the relevant evidence. On 19 April 1999 he submitted his pleadings to the court. On 6 May 1999 the court again ordered the applicant to specify and substantiate his claims. On 13 May 1999 the applicant submitted his additional pleadings. 21.  On 13 July 1999 the applicant modified his claim. On 8 September 1999 the court held a hearing. It partly exempted the applicant from court fees relating to the modification of his claim. On 15 November 1999 the court revoked the exemption. On 7 December 1999 the trial court refused to entertain the modified claim as a result of the applicant’s failure to pay the court fees. 23.  On 22 December 2000 the Bydgoszcz Regional Court gave judgment. The applicant appealed against the judgment to the Gdańsk Court of Appeal. On 6 April 2001 the Bydgoszcz Regional Court rejected the appeal because the applicant had failed to pay the required court fee within the statutory time-limit.