6.  The applicant was born in 1926 and lives in Poznań. 7.  The facts of the case, as submitted by the applicant, may be summarised as follows. 8.  On 10 September 1985 the applicant lodged a compensation claim with the Poznań Regional Court, claiming PLZ (old Polish zlotys) 1,530,000 from the military hunting association “P.” for unpaid salary. Later on, he extended his claim to PLZ 4,138,729. 9.  The court held a hearing on 2 December 1985. 10.  By a decision of 16 January 1986, the court stayed the proceedings at the applicant’s request, having regard to the fact that criminal proceedings had been instituted against him. The civil proceedings were resumed on an unspecified date in 1987. 11.  The court held hearings on 9 September 1987, 3 December 1987, 7 January 1988 and 21 January 1988. 12.  On an unspecified date in 1991 the court ordered an expert opinion. 13.  Another expert opinion was ordered by virtue of a decision of 14 January 1995. 14.  In a letter of 8 December 1997 the applicant requested the court to adjourn the hearing scheduled on 16 December 1997 due to his bad health. 15.  In 1997 the applicant requested the court to order a further expert opinion and he paid an advance fee for it in January 1998. Apparently, the court failed to order the relevant opinion. 16.  By a decision of 9 March 1998 the court stayed the proceedings as the applicant was ill. The proceedings were resumed on an unspecified date in 2001. 17.  The court held hearings on 24 April and 23 August 2001. 18.  By virtue of a court settlement concluded on an unspecified date, on 14 December 2001 the applicant received a partial compensation from the military hunting association. 19.  By a decision of 18 December 2001 the Poznań Regional Court terminated the proceedings as the applicant had withdrawn his claim.