4.  The applicant was born in 1944 and lives in Prestranek. 5.  On 13 November 1996, following a decision on his retirement, the applicant instituted proceedings against his former employer, the Republic of Slovenia, Ministry of Defence, before the Ljubljana Labour and Social Court. The case was initially conducted as a social dispute before the Social Court. 6.  On 5 March 1998 the defendant responded to the claim. 7.  On 7 December 1999 the court held the first main hearing. 8.  On 11 February 2000 the second main hearing was held. 9.  On 16 February 2000 the applicant gave a declaration before the court specifying his claim. 10.  Following the applicant’s declaration of 16 February 2000, as of 6 July 2000 the case was conducted as a labour dispute and was examined by the Labour Court. 11.  On 24 January 2001 the third main hearing was held. At the hearing the applicant amended his claim. 12.  On 7 May 2001 the applicant was invited by the court to assist him in amending his claim. 13.  On 6 June 2001 the applicant requested the court for an extension of the time-limit for amending his claim. 14.  On 8 June 2001 and 11 June 2001 the applicant amended his claim. On 15 June 2001 he submitted further documents to the court. 15.  On 11 October 2001 the defendant responded to the claim. 16.  Further two main hearings were held on 13 May 2002 and 18 September 2002. On the latter date the applicant orally amended his claim. 17.  In January 2003 the applicant amended his claim in writing. 18.  On 12 February 2003 a further main hearing was held. On the same date the Labour and Social Court granted a small part of the applicant’s claim and dismissed the remainder of the claim. Both parties appealed. 19.  On 16 December 2004 the Higher Labour and Social Court granted the appeals and remitted the case back to the first instance. 20.  On 17 January 2005 the Ljubljana Labour and Social Court rejected the applicant’s claim. In a separate order the court ordered the applicant to pay the costs of the proceedings. The applicant appealed against both decisions. 21.  On 31 March 2006 the Higher Labour and Social Court dismissed the applicant’s appeal regarding the rejection of the claim, modified the decision on the costs of proceedings and dismissed the remainder of the applicant’s appeal relating to aforementioned decision. 22.  On 29 May 2007 the Supreme Court dismissed the applicant’s appeal on points of law. The applicant lodged a constitutional appeal. 23.  On 4 July 2008 the Constitutional Court dismissed the applicant’s constitutional appeal.