6.  The applicant was born in 1947 and lives in Warsaw. 7.  On 15 April 1992 a certain company U submitted a bill of exchange in the amount of PLN 50,000 signed by the applicant and requested the Warsaw District Court (Sąd Rejonowy) to issue an order for payment against him and other partners in the civil association K (spółka cywilna). 8.  On 9 June 1992 the court made the order for payment, allowing the plaintiff’s application. The applicant lodged an appeal against that order. 9.  Subsequently, the applicant applied for exemption from the court fees. On 4 July 1996 the Warsaw Court of Appeal (Sąd Apelacyjny) finally allowed his application. 10.  The Warsaw Regional Court scheduled hearings for 22 May, 18 September, 23 October and 24 November 1997. However, all of them were adjourned. Between 8 December 1997 and 18 May 1998 five hearings were adjourned. 11.  On 18 June 1998 the Warsaw Regional Court gave judgment in which it upheld the Warsaw District Court’s order of 9 June 1992. The applicant lodged an appeal against that judgment. 12.  On 12 March 1999 the Warsaw Court of Appeal dismissed the applicant’s appeal. 13.  Subsequently, the applicant lodged a cassation appeal with the Supreme Court (Sąd Najwyższy). 14.  On 13 November 2001 the Supreme Court dismissed the cassation appeal.