7.  The applicant was born in 1981 and lives in Lublin, Poland. 8.  The applicant underwent a heart operation in the Child Health Centre Hospital (Centrum Zdrowia Dziecka) in Warsaw-Międzylesie from 11 April to 27 May 1988. In May and June 1995 the applicant had been diagnosed with jaundice, which he considered to be a result of medical negligence. 9.  On 10 September 1996 the applicant's mother filed an action for damages on his behalf with the Warsaw Regional Court (Sąd Wojewódzki) against the Child Health Centre Hospital. The applicant claimed that he had contracted jaundice during his stay in the hospital in 1988. In addition, he claimed that as a result of medical negligence he suffered from complications, including heart arrhythmia. 10.  In March 1997 the defendant's counsel submitted his pleadings to the court. On 1 June 1997 the applicant's mother asked the court to adjourn the hearing until 30 June 1997 so that she would have sufficient time to prepare a reply to the defendant's submissions. 11.  The first hearing was held on 20 November 1997. On 11 December 1997 the applicant submitted his pleadings to the court. 12.  On 7 September 1998 the applicant asked to be granted legal aid. On 8 September 1998 the court granted his request and decided that the Warsaw Regional Bar would designate a lawyer for him. 13.  On 29 September 1998 the applicant increased his claim. 14.  The hearing listed for 5 October 1998 was adjourned at the request of the applicant's mother, since the Warsaw Regional Bar had not complied with the court's decision of 8 September 1998. The court again requested the Warsaw Regional Bar to designate a lawyer for the applicant. 15.  On 16 December 1998 the court held a hearing. The applicant's counsel asked the court to order an expert opinion. On 11 February 1999 the court ordered an expert opinion from a panel of doctors (a cardiologist and an epidemiologist). On 24 March and 16 April 1999 respectively, the experts submitted their opinions to the court. On 15 May 1999 the applicant challenged both reports. 16.  In her pleadings of 16 December 1999, the defendant's counsel argued that the Child Health Centre Hospital could not be a defendant in the case because it did not have standing in the proceedings and that the proper defendant should be the Minister of Health (Minister Zdrowia). 17.  On 13 March 2000 the court held a hearing. On 24 March 2000 the court summoned the Minister of Health (representing the State Treasury) to join the proceedings as a defendant. On 9 October 2000 the Warsaw Regional Court changed its decision of 24 March 2000 and summoned the Governor of Mazowsze as a defendant. 18.  On 18 April 2001 the Regional Court ordered yet another expert to prepare an opinion. On 11 February 2002 the expert submitted his opinion to the court. 19.  On 6 January 2004 the Warsaw Regional Court gave partial judgment. The defendant lodged an appeal with the Warsaw Court of Appeal. 20.  On 23 June 2004 the Court of Appeal quashed the first-instance judgment and remitted the case. The proceedings are pending before the Warsaw Regional Court.