4.  The applicant was born in 1926 and lives in Rzeszów. 5.  In 1992 the applicant, who was a pensioner, received from the Social Security Board (Zakład Ubezpieczeń Społecznych) a substantial amount of money (over 57,000,000 old Polish zlotys) by way of adjustment of his pension. 6.  Subsequently, the Social Security Board found that the sum had been awarded to the applicant by mistake and started to deduct money from his pension. The applicant instituted proceedings against the Board. According to the applicant, in 1996 the Rzeszow Court of Appeal allowed his action and found that the Board’s deductions had been illegal. 7.  On 28 July 1997 the Social Security Board instituted civil proceedings against the applicant in the Rzeszów District Court (Sąd Rejonowy) claiming the remaining sum of PLN 10,000. 8.  Between 7 November 1997 and 24 February 1998 the court held four hearings. 9.  On 10 March 1998 the court gave judgment in which it allowed the plaintiff’s action. The applicant appealed against the judgment. 10.  On 9 June 1998 the Rzeszów Regional Court (Sąd Wojewódzki) held a hearing at which it dismissed the applicant’s appeal. On 6 August 1998 the applicant lodged a cassation appeal with the Supreme Court (Sąd Najwyższy). 11.  On 11 April 2001, sitting in camera, the Supreme Court refused to entertain the cassation appeal.