5.  The applicant was born in 1954 and lives in Ljubljana. 6.  At an undetermined time, he invented a type of fish bait and secured a patent for production of this bait.
On 17 September 1992 the applicant and J.Z. made a contract to engage in production of fish baits.
On 24 March 1993 the applicant removed some of the production material and tools from J.Z.'s premises where the production had been taking place.
On 7 April 1993 J.Z. requested the applicant to sell him the patent for the bait, if he wished to keep their business relationship active.
On 16 April 1993 the applicant made an offer to J.Z. to sell him the patent, which the latter refused.
On 26 April 1993 the applicant informed J.Z. that he wished to end their business relationship by cancelling the contract of co-operation, but the latter refused. 7.  On 23 April 1993 J.Z. lodged a nuisance claim in the Ljubljana Basic Court, Ljubljana Unit (Temeljno sodišče v Ljubljani, Enota v Ljubljani) against the applicant and also sought an interim measure prohibiting the applicant to use or alienate any means for production of fish baits.
On 7 June 1993 the court upheld J.Z.'s request for an interim measure in part.
On 14 June 1993 the applicant replied to the claim and also appealed against the order issuing the interim measure. J.Z. cross-appealed.
Until 14 June 1994 the court held six hearings. On that day, the court partially stayed the proceedings because J.Z. had withdrawn the request for an interim measure in part. The court also allowed the applicant's appeal and annulled its decision of 7 June 1993. J.Z. appealed against this decision to the Ljubljana Higher Court (Višje sodišče v Ljubljani).
On 28 June 1994 the Convention took effect with respect to Slovenia.
On 21 July 1994 the Ljubljana Higher Court dismissed the appeal concerning the interim measure.
On 1 January 1995, following the reform of the Slovenian judicial system, the Ljubljana District Court (Okrožno sodišče v Ljubljani) gained jurisdiction in the case which was still pending in the first-instance court in the part referring to the nuisance claim.
On 20 June 1995 the court upheld J.Z.'s nuisance claim. The judgment was served on the applicant on 15 November 1995. 8.  On 22 November 1995 the applicant appealed to the Ljubljana Higher Court.
On 9 July 1996 the court allowed the appeal and remitted the case to the first-instance court for re-examination. 9.  On 10 December 1996 the Ljubljana District Court held a hearing which was adjourned sine die.
On 10 February 1997, after the applicant had instituted proceedings against the Republic of Slovenia due to excessive length of proceedings (see below §§ 11-14), the applicant requested that the case be transferred to a new court in order to secure the impartiality of the adjudicator. After his request was dismissed by the Supreme Court (Vrhovno sodišče) on 29 October 1997, he sought a recusal of the first-instance court's judge presiding over the case. Also this request was dismissed, ultimately, by the deputy of the President of the Ljubljana District Court on 1 September 1999.
On 8 March 2000 the court held a hearing.
On 5 April 2000 the applicant filed preliminary written observations and adduced evidence.
On 5 April 2000 the court held a hearing and rejected J.Z.'s claim. 10.  On 14 June 2000 J.Z. appealed to the Ljubljana Higher Court.
On 7 July 2000 the applicant lodged a reply to the appeal.
On 8 January 2002 the court dismissed both appeals. 11.  On 27 January 1997 the applicant instituted civil proceedings in the Ljubljana District Court against the Republic of Slovenia seeking damages in the amount of 34,740,000 Slovenian tolars (approximately 145,000 euros) for damages sustained due to excessive length of proceedings concerning the nuisance claim and interim measure.
On 21 April 1998 the applicant filed preliminary written observations, raised his claim and requested that a date be set for a hearing.
On 8 January 1998 the court held a hearing.
On 14 December 1998 the court rejected the applicant's claim holding that the judge in charge of the case in the first-instance, conducted the proceedings in accordance with the legislation in force. The decision was served on the applicant on 15 March 1999. 12.  On 29 March 1999 the applicant appealed to the Ljubljana Higher Court.
On 16 June 1999 the court dismissed the appeal. The judgment was served on the applicant on 9 July 1999. 13.  On 28 July 1999 the applicant lodged an appeal on points of law with the Supreme Court.
On 20 April 2000 the court dismissed the appeal. 14.  On 30 June 2000 the applicant lodged a constitutional appeal.
On 11 June 2001 the Constitutional Court (Ustavno sodišče) declared the case inadmissible as it was manifestly ill-founded. The decision was served on the applicant on 10 July 2001.