5.  The applicant was born in 1942 and lives in Závadka nad Hronom. 6.  On 27 September 1994 the applicant claimed a sum of money from an insurance company before the Banská Bystrica District Court. 7.  On 17 May 1995 the District Court transferred the case to the Banská Bystrica Regional Court for reasons of jurisdiction. 8.  On 23 July 1997 the vice-president of the Banská Bystrica Regional Court informed the applicant, in reply to the latter's complaint, that the case could not be proceeded with as the representative of the defendant company had failed to appear at hearings scheduled for 4 June 1996, 26 November 1996 and 6 May 1997. 9.  On 27 February 1998 the Regional Court allowed the applicant to amend his claims. 10.  On 11 November 1998 the Banská Bystrica Regional Court allowed the applicant's action in part and dismissed the remaining claims. The Regional Court further decided that neither party had the right to have the costs reimbursed. 11.  On 8 June 1999 the applicant complained that the judgment with reasons had not yet been served on him. On 20 July 1999 the president of the Regional Court admitted that the complaint was justified  and informed the applicant that the judgment would be sent out shortly. It was served on the applicant on 2 August 1999. 12.  Both the applicant and the defendant company appealed. On 7 October 1999 the applicant withdrew his appeal. 13.  On 30 August 2000 the Supreme Court discontinued the appellate proceedings as the defendant had failed to submit reasons for the appeal.