5.  The applicant was born in 1943 and lives in Begunje pri Cerknici. 6.  On 10 April 1997 the applicant instituted a labour dispute against two companies before the Ljubljana Labour and Social Court seeking severance pay. He also lodged a request for an interim order to safeguard his claim since the companies were having financial difficulties. 7.  On 24 April 1997 the first-instance court rejected the request for an interim order. He appealed. 8.  On 22 May 1997 the appeal court remitted the decision on the interim order for reconsideration. 9.  On 18 June 1997 the first-instance court postponed a hearing on the request of the applicant. 10.  On 2 July 1997 the first-instance court held a hearing concerning the interim order. 11.  On 11 July 1997 the first-instance court rejected the request for an interim order. 12.  On 8 December 1998 the applicant lodged a preliminary submission and a second request for an interim order. 13.  On 16 December 1998 the first-instance court rejected his request for an interim order. 14.  On 6 July 1999 the applicant lodged a request to accelerate the proceedings. 15.  On 24 November 1999 he lodged a third request for an interim order. 16.  On 6 December 1999 the first-instance court rejected his request. He appealed. 17.  On 23 December 1999 his appeal was rejected. 18.  On 18 April 2000 the applicant withdrew his claim against the second defendant and lodged a fourth request for an interim order. His request was rejected on 4 May 2000. He appealed. His appeal was rejected on 23 May 2000. 19.  On 19 July 2000 the first-instance court issued a decision on termination of proceedings concerning the second defendant. 20.  On 15 November 2000 the first hearing was held. 21.  On 24 January 2001 a hearing was postponed on request of both parties due to the absence of witnesses. 22.  On 7 March 2001 the first-instance court held a hearing and rendered a judgment upholding the applicant’s request in part. The applicant appealed. 23.  On 21 November 2002 the Higher Labour and Social Court remitted the case for re-examination. The appeal court found that the first-instance court failed to establish the facts correctly and issued the judgment prematurely. 24.  Between 2 July 2003 and 3 September 2003 the first-instance court held two hearings. 25.  On 15 October 2003 the first-instance court issued a judgment upholding the applicant’s request in part. The applicant appealed. 26.  On 3 March 2005 the appeal was rejected. He lodged an appeal on points of law. 27.  On 15 December 2005 the Supreme Court upheld the appeal and remitted the case to first-instance. The Supreme Court found that the lower court erred in the application of the law. 28.  On 10 March 2006 the first-instance court issued a judgment upholding the applicant’s request. The defendant appealed. 29.  On 11 July 2006 the appeal court upheld the appeal in part and amended the operative part of the judgment.