7.  The applicant was born in 1950 and lives in Kaczyn, Poland. 8.  On 10 June 1988 the applicant filed with the Kielce District Court (Sąd Rejonowy) an application for distribution of the inheritance left by her late mother. From 19 July 1988 to 30 April 1993 the court held eleven hearings and ordered that seven expert reports be prepared. 9.  On 31 August and 14 October 1993 the court held hearings. Subsequently, on 25 October 1993 the court heard a witness at the place of his residence. 10.  A hearing listed for 18 November 1993 was adjourned sine die since a witness did not appear. On the same day the court ordered that a supplementary expert report be prepared. 11.  On 6 May 1994 the court adjourned the hearing at the request of a lawyer of B.J. (“B.J.”), a party to the proceedings. 12.  A hearing listed for 8 June 1994 was adjourned as a witness failed to appear. 13.  On 6 July 1994 the court held a hearing and set a time-limit for the parties to submit their requests as to evidence in the case. 14.  During the hearing held on 29 July 1994 the court ordered that a supplementary expert report be prepared. On 24 October 1994 it was submitted to the court. 15.  On 15 December 1994 B.J. requested the court to secure the claim. 16.  On 13 February 1995 the court held a hearing. It set 14 days time‑limit for B.J. to submit his requests as to evidence in the case and for the applicant as to submit her pleadings. 17.  A hearing listed for 27 March 1995 was adjourned until 8 May 1995 at the request of B.J.’s lawyer. Subsequently, the court adjourned the hearing scheduled for 8 May 1995 until 22 May 1995. 18.  At the hearing held on 22 May 1995 B.J. challenged the expert opinion and requested the court to inspect the site. 19.  On 29 May 1995 the court refused to secure the claim. 20.  On 10 November 1995 the court held a hearing. A hearing scheduled for 26 January 1996 was adjourned as the expert failed to appear. 21.  On 27 March 1996 the court held a hearing. It heard the expert and ordered inspection of the site. The inspection of the site scheduled for 28 June 1996 was postponed because of the bad weather. On 23 August 1996 the court inspected the site. 22.  On 7 January 1997 the court ordered that supplementary expert reports be prepared. 23.  On 17 March 1997 the applicant and four other parties to the proceedings sent a letter to the President of the Cracow Court of Appeal (Sąd Apelacyjny) requesting that the proceedings be expedited. In a letter of 13 May 1997 the President informed the applicant that the President of the Kielce District Court would supervise the conduct of the proceedings. He also admitted that the proceedings had been slowed down as a result of changes to the rapporteurs. 24.  On 8 May 1997 a supplementary report was submitted to the court. 25.  On 14 July 1997 the court held a hearing. It set a two‑week time‑limit for the lawyer of B.J. to submit pleadings. 26.  A hearing listed for 5 September 1997 was adjourned sine die. 27.  On 6 October 1997 the court ordered that a supplementary report be prepared. On 20 October 1997 it was submitted to the court. 28.  The next hearing, listed for 22 November 1997, was adjourned at the request of B.J, as he was ill. 29.  On 22 December 1997 the court held a hearing. 30.  A hearing scheduled for 4 February 1998 was adjourned at the request of B.J.’s lawyer. 31.  On 18 February 1998 the court held a hearing. It ordered that a supplementary expert report be prepared. On 17 March 1998 a supplementary report was submitted to the court. 32.  A further hearing, listed for 23 March 1998, was adjourned sine die. 33.  On 1 June 1998 the court ordered that a fresh supplementary expert report be prepared within one month. On 10 July 1998 the court obtained a supplementary expert report. On 5 August 1998 the applicant and other parties to the proceedings challenged the expert report. 34.  On 30 September 1998 the applicant complained to the President of the Kielce District Court about the delay in the proceedings. 35.  On 6 November 1998 the court served the expert report on the parties and ordered that they submit their observations thereon within 14 days. On 18 November 1998 the applicant and other parties to the proceedings challenged the expert opinion and accused B.J. of prolonging the proceedings. 36.  A hearing held on 23 March 1999 was adjourned at the request of the applicant’s lawyer due to the possibility of reaching a friendly settlement. 37.  The court held a further hearing on 30 April 1999. The applicant’s lawyer informed the court that reaching a friendly settlement was impossible due to the conduct of B.J. 38.  On 14 May 1999 the court closed the examination of the case and informed the parties that the final decision would be delivered on 24 May 1999. It later resumed the examination of the case and listed a hearing for 8 September 1999. 39.  On 22 September 1999 the District Court gave a decision (postanowienie). On 13 December 1999 B.J. appealed against the first‑instance decision to the Kielce Regional Court (Sąd Okręgowy). 40.  On 27 April 2000 the court held a hearing. 41.  On 15 May 2000 the court dismissed B.J.’s request for exemption from court fees. 42.  On 27 June 2000 the court ordered that three fresh expert reports be prepared within one month. They were submitted to the court on 20 July and 30 August 2000 respectively. 43.  On 18 October 2000 the court held a hearing and ordered the parties to submit their observations on the expert reports within 14 days. It adjourned the hearing sine die at the joint request of B.J. and his lawyer. 44.  On 1 December 2000 the court held the hearing and heard the experts. It closed the examination of the case and announced that the decision would be delivered on 15 December 2000. On the same day the court resumed the examination of the case following the requests of B.J. and his lawyer and adjourned the hearing sine die. 45.  The next hearing listed for 25 January 2001 was adjourned at the request of B.J.’s lawyer as B.J. was ill. 46.  On 12 April 2001 the court held a hearing. It gave a decision (postanowienie) and dismissed the appeal. 47.  On 23 June 2001 B.J. lodged a cassation appeal with the Kielce Regional Court. On 12 July 2001 the court rejected the cassation appeal. On 28 August 2001 B.J. appealed. On 28 February 2002 the court dismissed B.J.’s appeal and the decision became final.