6.  The applicant was born in 1955 and lives in Vienna, Austria. 7.  On 16 May 1987 the applicant, who was a conscript, was injured in a car accident. The perpetrator or the accident was an employee of a private company IN which insured the vehicle with the insurance company ZT. At the time of the accident the perpetrator was driving the private company’s vehicle for the Yugoslav armed forces while conscripted under the order issued by the Celje Municipality Department of Defence. 8.  On 7 August 1989 the applicant instituted civil proceedings against the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (“SFRY”) and ZT in the Celje Basic Court, Celje Unit (Temeljno sodišče v Celju, Enota v Celju) seeking damages for the injuries sustained.
On 2 July 1990 the court upheld the applicant’s claim in part. 9.  On 13 September 1990 the applicant appealed to the Celje Higher Court (Višje sodišče v Celju). SFRY and ZT cross-appealed.
On 13 March 1991 the court allowed the appeals and remitted the case to the first-instance court for re-examination. 10.  On 4 September 1992 the first-instance court stayed the proceedings, because SFRY ceased to exist. The court advised the applicant that it would continue the proceedings once the legal successor of the SFRY took over the position of the defendant or upon the applicant’s request. 11.  On 5 August 1994 the applicant lodged a request for continuation of the proceedings against the Republic of Slovenia (“RS”), the Succession Fund, the Celje Municipality and companies ZT and IN. 12.  On 1 January 1995 the Celje Local Court (Okrajno sodišče v Celju) gained jurisdiction in the present case due to the reform of the Slovenian judicial system. 13.  On 5 February 1996 the court declared the case out of its jurisdiction and transferred it to the Celje District Court (Okrožno sodišče v Celju). 14.  Between 31 January 1996 and 20 December 1999 the applicant lodged four preliminary written submissions and/or adduced evidence. 15.  The court held a hearing on 5 February 1996.
Between 11 February 1998 and 9 November 1998 the applicant made three requests that a date be set for a hearing.
The hearing scheduled for 18 December 1998 was adjourned because the applicant, who did not attend the hearing, needed to be heard. At the hearing, applicant’s legal representative informed that court that on that same day he had received a notice from the applicant explaining that he had moved to Austria.
The applicant failed to appear before the court on 29 January 1999 when the next hearing was held. At that time, the applicant resided in Austria and possessed a passport of SFRY which he could not use to exit Slovenia, had he entered it. Consequently the scheduled hearing was adjourned sine die, until the applicant would inform the court that he had acquired the required identification documents and could attend the hearing.
The court held a hearing on 20 December 1999 and the applicant attended it.
At the last hearing held on 14 February 2000 the court decided to deliver a written judgment. The judgment, upholding the applicant’s claim in part, was served on the applicant on 4 May 2000. 16.  On 12 May 2000 the applicant appealed to the Celje Higher Court. RS cross-appealed. 17.  On 23 May 2000 the first-instance court delivered a decision concerning the const and expenses of Celje Municipality.
On 18 July 2000 the applicant appealed against this decision to the Celje Higher Court. 18.  On 31 May 2001 the court allowed the appeals concerning the judgment in part and remitted the case to the first-instance court for re-examination. The court dismissed the applicant’s appeal concerning the decision on costs and expenses.
The judgment was served on the applicant on 3 July 2001. 19.  On 20 July 2001 the applicant lodged an appeal on points of law with the Supreme Court (Vrhovno sodišče). The applicant also sought a recusal of one of the judges.
On 21 December 2001 the president of the court rejected the applicant’s request for a recusal.
On 4 December 2002 the court rejected the applicant’s appeal.
The judgment was served on the applicant on 21 January 2003. 20.  Between 24 July 2001 and 2 April 2003 the applicant lodged four preliminary written submissions and/or adduced evidence.
On 20 March 2003 and 15 May 2003 the court held two hearings and decided to deliver a written judgment.
The judgment, upholding the applicant’s claim in part, was served on the applicant on 10 July 2003. 21.  On 11 July 2003 the applicant appealed to the Celje Higher Court. RS cross-appealed.
On 19 February 2004 the court dismissed the applicant’s appeal and allowed RS’s appeal.
The judgment was served on the applicant on 3 March 2004. 22.  On 15 March 2004 the applicant appealed to the Supreme Court.
On 25 November 2004 the court allowed the applicant’s appeal in part.
The judgment was served on the applicant on 11 January 2005.