5.  The applicants were born in 1958, 1984 and 1985 respectively and live in Škofja Vas. The first applicant is a mother of the other two applicants. She was a wife of I. Z., who was also a father of the other two applicants. 6.  On 20 November 1997 the first applicant and I. Z. were injured in a car accident. I. Z. died after the accident because of the injures sustained. The perpetrator of the accident, C. D., had taken out insurance with the insurance company ZA. 7.  On 22 May 1998 the applicants instituted civil proceedings against ZA in the Celje District Court (Okrožno sodišče v Celju) seeking damages in the amount of 9.789.433,00 Slovenian tolars (approximately 40,790 euros) for the death of I. Z. and in respect of a non-pecuniary damage resulted from the injures the first applicant’s sustained in the accident.
Between 22 February 1999 and 10 June 2003 the applicants lodged fifteen preliminary written submissions and/or adduced evidence.
During the proceedings, the applicants partially withdrew their claim.
Between 17 November 1998 and 19 October 2001 they made four requests that a date be set for a hearing.
Of the six hearings held between 12 February 1999 and 7 July 2003, none was adjourned at the request of the applicants.
During the proceedings, the court appointed a medical expert.
At the hearing held on 4 September 2002, the court decided to suspend the civil proceedings until the criminal proceedings against C. D. were concluded. On 16 September 2002 and 2 December 2002 the applicants requested that a date be set for a hearing in the criminal proceedings. On 9 June 2003 the court issued a judgement finding C. D guilty and the civil proceedings subsequently continued.
On 30 October 2003 the court delivered a judgment. The judgment, upholding the applicant’s claim in part, was served on the applicants on 19 December 2003. 8.  On 22 December 2003 the applicants appealed to the Celje Higher Court (Višje sodišče v Celju).
On 24 November 2005 the court allowed the applicants’s appeal in part and increased the damages awarded.
The judgment was served on the applicants on 12 December 2005. 9.  On 15 December 2005 the applicants lodged an appeal on points of law with the Supreme Court (Vrhovno sodišče).
The proceedings are still pending.