4.  The applicant was born in 1940 and lives in Balatonkenese. 5.  The applicant brought an action against a building society for repossession of real property. He also claimed compensation. On 15 May 1992 the Budapest Regional Court awarded him 624,986 Hungarian forints (HUF) in compensation. 6.  On 28 October 1994 the applicant, being dissatisfied with the award, brought another action for compensation against the building society on partly modified legal grounds.
After having held a hearing on 23 February 1995, the Buda Central District Court dismissed his action on 12 March 1995. The applicant appealed. 7.  On 11 October 1995 the Budapest Regional Court upheld the District Court’s judgment. The applicant filed a petition for review on 19 January 1996. 8.  On 30 May 1997 the Supreme Court quashed both decisions and remitted the case to the first-instance court. 9.  In the resumed proceedings, on 1 December 1997 the case was given priority. Hearings took place on 17 December 1997 and 19 March 1998. On 12 May 1998 a real-estate expert was appointed. Following a warning, the latter presented his opinion 30 September 1998. 10.  On 13 October 1998 the Buda Central District Court held a hearing and, on 21 October 1998, dismissed the applicant’s action. The applicant appealed. 11.  On 26 May 1999 the Budapest Regional Court dismissed his motion for bias. 12.  On 2 June 1999 the Regional Court held a hearing and, on 9 July 1999, partly changed the first-instance judgment and awarded the applicant HUF 152,204 in compensation. The applicant filed a petition for review on 7 January 2000. 13.  On 27 February 2002 the Supreme Court upheld the Regional Court’s decision. This judgment was served on 23 May 2002.