5.  On 22 October 1997 the applicant instituted civil proceedings before the Celje District Court seeking the compensation of damages sustained in a car accident. 6.  On 3 September 1998 the first hearing was held. 7.  On 16 September 1998 the first-instance court appointed a medical expert. 8.  On 26 February 1999 the expert opinion was submitted to the first-instance court. 9.  On 3 June 1999 a hearing was held. 10.  On 29 June 1999 the first-instance court appointed a new medical expert. 11.  On 1 September 1999 the expert submitted his opinion to the court. 12.  On 4 November 1999 a hearing was held and the court decided to appoint the third expert. 13.  On 7 February 2000 the expert submitted his opinion. 14.  On 23 March 2000 the court postponed the hearing scheduled for 28 March 2000 on the request of the applicant due to his medical condition. 15.  On 4 May 2000 the first-instance court held the last hearing and delivered a judgment upholding the applicant’s request in part. Both parties appealed. 16. On 17 October 2001 the Celje Higher Court remitted part of the case for re-examination and rejected the remainder of the claim. 17. On 19 December 2001 the applicant lodged an appeal on points of law against the rejected part of his appeal before the second-instance court. 18.  On 10 April 2003 the Supreme Court rejected the appeal on points of law and the proceedings at first-instance resumed. 19.  On 9 December 2003 a hearing was held where a decision to amend the expert opinion was taken. 20.  On 1 June 2004, during the last hearing, the first-instance court delivered a judgment. The applicant appealed. 21.  On 14 April 2005 the Ljubljana Higher Court rendered a judgment.