5.  The applicant was born in 1969 and lives in Velenje. 6.  On 20 April 1994 the applicant was injured while serving military service as a conscript. 7.  On 23 April 1997 the applicant instituted civil proceedings with the Celje District Court (Okrožno sodišče v Celju) against the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia seeking damages in the amount of 4,373,756 tolars (approximately 18,200 euros) for the injuries sustained.
On 25 September 1997 the presiding judge was appointed to the Celje Higher Court (Višje sodišče v Celju) and the case was assigned to a new judge.
On 23 November 1998 the applicant made a request that a date be set for a hearing.
Between 17 May 1997 and 20 September 2001 the applicant lodged eight preliminary written submissions and/or adduced evidence.
Of the five hearings held between 5 February 1999 and 8 October 2001 none was adjourned at the request of the applicant.
During the proceedings the court appointed a medical expert. The court also sought an additional opinion from the appointed expert.
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 7 November 2001. 8.  On 21 November 2001 the applicant appealed to the Celje Higher Court (Višje sodišče v Celju). He also requested that the court corrected its judgment. ZT cross-appealed.
On 5 November 2001 the judge, presiding the case before the first-instance court, was appointed to the Celje Higher Court and the case was assigned to a new judge.
On 10 November 2003 the Celje District Court held a hearing and decided to issue a supplementary judgment. This judgment was served on the applicant on 19 January 2004.
On 29 January 2004 the applicant appealed against the supplementary judgment to the Celje Higher Court.
On 27 May 2004 the court allowed the appeals from both parties, annulled the first-instance court’s judgment and remitted the case to the first-instance court for re-examination. 9.  The proceedings before the first-instance court are still pending.