5.  The applicant was born in 1947 and lives in Velenje. 6.  On 25 August 1994 the applicant was severely injured in an accident at work in a carpenters’ workshop. VE, the applicant’s employer, had taken out insurance with the insurance company ZT. 7.  On 31 July 1997 the applicant instituted civil proceedings against VE and ZT in the Celje District Court (Okrožno sodišče v Celju) seeking damages in the amount of 10,337,422 tolars (approximately 43,000 euros) for the injuries sustained.
He also sought an exemption from court fees.
Between 30 December 1997 and 5 September 2001 the applicant lodged twenty-six preliminary written submissions and/or adduced evidence.
Between 30 December 1997 and 3 January 2001 he made eight requests that a date be set for a hearing.
Of the four hearings held between 18 January 1999 and 28 March 2002 none was adjourned at the request of the applicant.
During the proceedings the court appointed commission of three medical experts and two additional medical experts.
At the last hearing the court decided to deliver a written judgment. The judgment, upholding the applicant’s claim in part, was served on the applicant on 15 April 2002.
On 10 April 2002 the court asked the applicant to complete his request for an exemption from court fees. Since the applicant failed to comply, the court dismissed his request on 24 April 2002. 8.  On 18 April 2002 the applicant appealed to the Celje Higher Court (Višje sodišče v Celju) against the first-instance court’s judgment and also requested that the court amended the judgment. ZT and VE cross-appealed.
The first instance-court corrected the judgment on 24 April 2002.
On 28 August 2002 the applicant appealed against the decision on the exemption from court fees.
On 4 December 2003 the court allowed the applicant’s appeals in part and dismissed the VE’s and ZT’s appeal. The court remitted the case, in the part referring to the exemption from court fees, to the first-instance court for re-examination.
The judgment was served on the applicant on 19 January 2004. 9.  On 30 January 2004 the applicant lodged an appeal on points of law with the Supreme Court (Vrhovno sodišče). ZT and VE cross-appealed.
On 1 December 2005 the court allowed the appeals in part and lowered the amount of the damages awarded. The judgment was served on the applicant on 20 January 2006.