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EUROPEAN COMMISSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

SECOND CHAMBER

Application No. 16494/90

Elisabeth Schober

against

Austria

REPORT OF THE COMMISSION

(adopted on 9 March 1994)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

INTRODUCTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

PART I: STATEMENT OF THE FACTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

PART II: SOLUTION REACHED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

INTRODUCTION

1. This Report relates to the application introduced under

Article 25 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human

Rights and Fundamental Freedoms by Elisabeth Schober against Austria

on 11 April 1990. It was registered on 24 April 1990 under file

No. 16494/90.

The applicant was represented by Mr. A. Friedberg, lawyer,

Vienna.

The Government of Austria were represented by their Agent,

Mr. Franz Cede.

2. On 2 December 1991 the Commission (Second Chamber) declared the

application partially inadmissible. The complaint under

Article 6 para. 1 of the Convention concerning the length of the two

sets of proceedings involved was declared admissible on

1 September 1993. The Chamber then proceeded to carry out its task

under Article 28 para. 1 of the Convention which provides as follows:

"In the event of the Commission accepting a petition referred to

it:

a. it shall, with a view to ascertaining the facts, undertake

together with the representatives of the parties an examination

of the petition and, if need be, an investigation, for the

effective conduct of which the States concerned shall furnish all

necessary facilities, after an exchange of views with the

Commission;

b. it shall at the same time place itself at the disposal of

the parties concerned with a view to securing a friendly

settlement of the matter on the basis of respect for Human Rights

as defined in this Convention."

3. The Commission (Second Chamber) found that the parties had

reached a friendly settlement of the case and on 9 March 1994 it

adopted this Report, which, in accordance with Article 28 para. 2 of

the Convention, is confined to a brief statement of the facts and of

the solution reached.

The following members were present when the Report was adopted:

MM. S. TRECHSEL, President

H. DANELIUS

G. JÖRUNDSSON

J.-C. SOYER

H.G. SCHERMERS

Mrs. G.H. THUNE

MM. F. MARTINEZ

L. LOUCAIDES

J.-C. GEUS

M.A. NOWICKI

I. CABRAL BARRETO

J. MUCHA

D. SVÁBY

PART I

STATEMENT OF THE FACTS

4. The applicant is an Austrian citizen, born in 1954 and resident

in Steyr.

5. The applicant's maternal grandmother died on 5 December 1983. She

left the bulk of her estate to her son with provision for only the

"reserved portion" to pass to her daughter, the applicant's mother.

The applicant's mother made a declaration to the St. Peter District

Court (Bezirksgericht) on 16 December 1983 that she was entitled to and

claimed the reserved portion. On 23 January 1984 the applicant's

mother died. The applicant thenceforth took the place of her mother

in the proceedings. The non-contentious proceedings under the

Hereditary Farms Act (Anerbengesetz) are still pending.

6. In proceedings independent of the above, the applicant on

7 September 1984 introduced proceedings against her uncle for the

amount due to her under her mother's estate. On 7 December 1984 the

District Court adjourned the proceedings until the courts had finally

decided whether the applicant's grandmother's estate was or was not an

hereditary farm. These proceedings are also still pending.

PART II

SOLUTION REACHED

7. Following the decision on the admissibility of the application,

the Commission (Second Chamber) placed itself at the disposal of the

parties with a view to securing a friendly settlement in accordance

with Article 28 para. 1 (b) of the Convention and invited the parties

to submit any proposals they wished to make.

8. In accordance with the usual practice, the Chamber Secretary,

acting on the Commission's instructions, contacted the parties to

explore the possibilities of reaching a friendly settlement.

9. Following an exchange of correspondence, the Commission

considered the question of a settlement on 7 December 1993, and made

specific settlement proposals. The terms were included in a

Declaration which was returned to the Commission by the applicant on

26 January 1994 and by the Government on 27 January 1994. The

settlement provided as follows:

[Translation]

"Declaration by the parties with a view to a friendly settlement

In connection with Application No. 16494/90 by Ms. Elisabeth

Schober, the parties, with reference to Article 28 para. 1 (b) of the

European Convention on Human Rights and with the assistance of the

European Commission of Human Rights, agree as follows:

1. The Government of the Republic of Austria will pay to the

applicant a sum amounting to altogether AS 75,000 as compensation

in respect of any possible claims relating to the present

application. This sum includes AS 30,000 in respect of costs and

expenses incurred before the Commission.

This amount will be paid to the applicant's representative,

Mr. A. Friedberg (Postsparkasse 60 000 - 2369.220) in Vienna.

2. The applicant waives any further claims against the

Republic of Austria relating to the present application."

[German]

"Erklärung der Parteien zur gütlichen Regelung

In der Individualbeschwerde Nr. 16494/90 der Frau Elisabeth

Schober verständigen sich die Parteien unter Bezugnahme auf

Artikel 28 Abs. 1 b der Europäischen Konvention zum Schutze der

Menschenrechte und Grundfreiheiten und unter Mitwirkung der

Europäischen Kommission für Menschenrechte auf die nachstehende

gütliche Regelung:

1. Die österreichische Regierung zahlt dem Beschwerdeführer

als Ausgleich für sämtliche etwaigen Ansprüche im Zusammenhang

mit der vorliegenden Individualbeschwerde einen Gesamtbetrag von

AS 75 000. Dieser Betrag umfasst AS 30 000 hinsichtlich der

Gebühren und Auslagen, die im Rahmen des Verfahrens vor der

Kommission entstanden sind.

Dieser Betrag wird an den Verfahrensbevollmächtigten des

Beschwerdeführers Herrn Dr. A. Friedberg in Wien

(Postsparkasse 60 000 - 2369.220) überwiesen.

2. Der Beschwerdeführer verzichtet auf die Geltendmachung

allfälliger weiterer Forderungen gegen die Republik Österreich

im Zusammenhang mit dem der Beschwerde zugrundeliegenden

Sachverhalt."

10. At its session on 9 March 1994, the Commission noted that the

parties had reached an agreement regarding the terms of a settlement.

It further considered, having regard to Article 28 para. 1 (b) of the

Convention, that the friendly settlement of the case had been secured

on the basis of respect for Human Rights as defined in the Convention.

11. For these reasons, the Commission adopted the present Report.

Secretary to the Second Chamber President of the Second Chamber

(K. ROGGE) (S. TRECHSEL)

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SCHOBER v. AUSTRIA

SCHOBER v. AUSTRIA

LEXI