Lexploria

FIRST SECTION

DECISION

Application no. 32267/13 Rafał ZYCH against Poland and 74 other applications (see list appended)

The European Court of Human Righ ts (First Section), sitting on 18 December 2018 as a Committee composed of:

Ksenija Turković, President, Krzysztof Wojtyczek, Pauliine Koskelo, judges,

and Renata Degener, Deputy Section Registrar ,

Having regard to the above applications lodged on the various dates indicated in the appended table ,

Having regard to the declarations submitted by the respondent Government on 22 February, 7 June, and 9 July 2018 requesting the Court to strike the applications out of the list of cases and the applicants ’ reply to these declarations,

Having deliberated, decides as follows:

FACTS AND PROCEDURE

1. A list of the applicants is set out in the appendix.

2. The Polish Government (“the Government”) were represented by their Agent, Ms J. Chrzanowska , and subsequently by Mr J. Sobczak, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

3. All the applicants complained under Article 6 § 1 of the Convention about the excessive length of proceedings in their cases and under Article 13 of the Convention about the lack of, or insufficient, redress for the excessive length of proceedings granted to them by the national courts.

4. The applications were communicated to the Government.

5. By letters dated 22 February, 7 June, and 9 July 2018 the Government informed the Court that they proposed to make declarations with a view to resolving the issues raised by the applications. In each case the Government acknowledged a violation of Article 6 § 1 on account of the excessive length of proceedings and violation of Article 13 on account of the lack of an effective remedy, securing sufficient redress for a violation of Artic le 6 § 1. They offered payment of sums specified in respect of each applicant in a table appended to their declarations. The Government further undertook to adopt a range of general measures in respect of other persons who were victims of similar violations or might be affected by similar violations in the future. The sums referred to above, which are specified in the appendix to the decision, are to cover any pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage as well as costs and expenses, will be free of any taxes that may be applicable. They will be payable within three months from the date of notification of the decision taken by the Court pursuant to Article 37 § 1 of the Convention. In the event of failure to pay these sums within the said three-month period, the Government undertook to pay simple interest on each of them, from expiry of that period until settlement, at a rate equal to the marginal lending rate of the European Central Bank during the default periods plus three percentage points. In addition, the Government made a declaration on general measures to be adopted in implementation of the Rutkowski and Others pilot judgment (see Rutko wski and Others v. Poland, nos. 72287/10 and 2 others, 7 July 2015 ). They further requested the Court to strike out the applications in accordance wit h Article 37 of the Convention.

THE LAW

6. Having regard to the similar subject matter of the applications, the Court finds it appropriate to examine them jointly in a single decision.

A. Articles 6 § 1 and 13 of the Convention

7. On various dates in 2018 sixty applicants indicated that they were not satisfied with the terms of the unilateral declarations. The remaining fifteen applicants made no comments on the Government ’ s unilateral declarations.

8. The Court reiterates that Article 37 of the Convention provides that it may at any stage of the proceedings decide to strike an application out of its list of cases where the circumstances lead to one of the conclusions specified, under (a), (b) or (c) of paragraph 1 of that Article. Article 37 § 1 (c) enables the Court in particular to strike a case out of its list if:

“for any other reason established by the Court, it is no longer justified to continue the examination of the application”.

9. It also reiterates that in certain circumstances, it may strike out an application under Article 37 § 1 (c) on the basis of a unilateral declaration by a respondent Government even if the applicants wish the examination of the case to be continued.

10. To this end, the Court has examined the declarations in the light of the principles emerging from its case-law, in particular the Tahsin Acar judgment ( Tahsin Acar v. Turkey (preliminary objections) [GC], no. 26307/95, §§ 75-77, ECHR 2003-VI; WAZA Sp. z o.o. v. Poland (dec.), no. 11602/02, 26 June 2007; and Sulwińska v. Poland (dec.), no. 28953/03, 18 September 2007).

11. The conclusions reached by the Court on admissions and undertakings contained in the Government ’ s declarations in the first group of 400 cases submitted in the pilot-judgment procedure apply to the present case (see Załuska and Rogalska v. Poland and 398 other applications (dec.), nos. 53491/10 and 72286/10, §§ 51-53 , 20 June 2017).

12. Having regard to the nature of the admissions contained in the Government ’ s declarations, as well as the amount of compensation proposed – which is consistent with the amounts awarded in similar cases – the Court considers that it is no longer justified to continue the examination of the applications (Article 37 § 1 (c)).

13. Moreover, in light of the above considerations, and in particular given the clear and extensive case-law on the topic, the Court is satisfied that respect for human rights as defined in the Convention and the Protocols thereto does not require it to continue the examination of the applications (Article 37 § 1 in fine ).

14. Finally, the Court emphasises that, should the Government fail to comply with the terms of their unilateral declarations, the applications could be restored to the list in accordance with Article 37 § 2 of the Convention ( Josipović v. Serbia (dec.), no. 18369/07, 4 March 2008).

15. In view of the above, it is appropriate to strike the case s out of the list in their part concerning the complaints under Articles 6 § 1 and 13 of the Convention .

B. Other alleged violations of the Convention

16. The twenty-seven applicants indicated in the attached Appendix also raised a number of complains under other Articles of the Convention.

17. Having regard to the facts of the case, the Government ’ s declarations, and its decision to strike out the complaints under Articles 6 § 1 and 13 of the Convention, the Court considers that the main legal question raised in the present applications has been resolved. It concludes, therefore, that there is no need to give a separate ruling on the applicants ’ remaining complaints (see, mutatis mutandis , Kamil Uzun v. Turkey , no. 37410/97, § 64, 10 May 2007).

For these reasons, the Court, unanimously,

Decides to join the applications;

Takes note of the terms of the respondent Government ’ s declaration under Articles 6 § 1 and 13 of the Convention and of the modalities for ensuring compliance with the undertakings referred to therein;

Decides to strike the applications out of its list of cases in their part concerning the complaints under Articles 6 § 1 and 13 of the Convention in accordance with Article 37 § 1 (c) of the Convention;

Holds that there is no need to examine separately the remaining complaints.

Done in English and notified in writing on 24 January 2019 .

Renata Degener Ksenija Turković Deputy Registrar President

APPENDIX

No.

Application no.

Lodged on

Applicant

Date of birth

Place of residence

Represented by

Other complaints

Amount proposed in Unilateral Declaration

32267/13

29/04/2013

Rafał ZYCH

19/03/1976

Barczewo

Yes

PLN 15,440

9823/14

22/01/2014

Piotr PAKIEŁA

31/07/1978

Ciechanów

Yes

PLN 10,480

7970/15

03/02/2015

Ryszard BOGUCKI

27/04/1969

Herby

Emilia MÄ„DRECKA

Yes

PLN 34,730

10899/15

23/06/2015

Zbigniew ÅšWIÄ„TCZAK

21/03/1964

Sieradz

Yes

PLN 4,680

12464/15

03/03/2015

Marzena GRZEGORCZYK

20/06/1961

Warszawa

Paweł OLEJNICZEK

Yes

PLN 9,290

17347/15

10/11/2015

Tomasz HIRSCH

23/03/1974

Lublin

No

PLN 9,080

23482/15

17/07/2015

Leszek ORŁOWSKI

26/06/1977

Poznań

No

PLN 3,820

27589/15

28/05/2015

Arkadiusz WARZYCHA

12/01/1965

KÅ‚obuck

No

PLN 8,000

34030/15

19/06/2015

Filip Andrzej WEINBERG

10/07/1984

IÅ‚awa

Anna Weronika TETKOWSKA

No

PLN 10,080

40337/15

07/08/2015

Tomasz BŁASIK

18/07/1974

Kami Å„ sk

No

PLN 15,290

42073/15

22/10/2015

Krzysztof SOCIK

17/07/1987

Stara Huta

Yes

PLN 6,240

46824/15

07/09/2015

Seweryn NIEDŹWIADEK

11/02/1985

Lublin

No

PLN 12,230

49169/15

22/12/2015

Jan DYTRYCH

24/07/1949

Legionowo

Yes

PLN 10,160

50832/15

07/10/2015

Adam WYSOCKI

24/09/1967

Barczewo

No

PLN 12,480

52137/15

30/03/2016

Robert CIEÅšLAK

01/06/1977

Warszawa

Yes

PLN 18,720

53344/15

19/10/2015

Anna GALAS-NIEDŹWIEDŹ

11/04/1961

Wroclaw

Yes

PLN 6,120

57548/15

10/06/2011

Maciej LUBIŃSKI

11/04/1967

Warszawa

Jolanta TURCZYNOWICZ-KIERYŁŁO

No

PLN 8,890

57636/15

10/06/2011

Remigiusz MINDA

05/05/1959

Warszawa

Jolanta TURCZYNOWICZ-KIERYŁŁO

No

PLN 8,890

58375/15

16/11/2015

Ryszard WIELOCHA

06/08/1944

Koszalin

Tomasz Janusz PSIUCH

No

PLN 40,560

59362/15

20/11/2015

Ernest UJAZDA

03/10/1968

Warszawa

PLN 6,240

60336/15

25/11/2015

Krzysztof MASZTALSKI

04/11/1967

Ruda ÅšlÄ…ska

No

PLN 9,570

60915/15

24/11/2015

Jacek KARABIOWSKI

05/07/1986

Lublin

Emilia KARABIOWSKA

No

PLN 6,050

61071/15

04/12/2015

Andrzej MAKOWSKI

30/11/1974

Siemianowice ÅšlÄ…skie

Olga LEÅšNIK

No

PLN 26,680

62967/15

04/12/2015

Kamil OLSZEWSKI

19/01/1988

Kamińsk

No

PLN 3,610

1306/16

19/12/2015

Władysław PAWLIKOWSKI

15/01/1972

Świętochłowice

No

PLN 7,800

1986/16

29/12/2015

Piotr SKUTNIK

23/10/1987

Warszawa

Yes

PLN 11,600

4806/16

14/01/2016

Mariusz PAWELCZYK

03/05/1989

Korsze

No

PLN 16,510

5579/16

19/01/2016

Adam Władysław SIKORSKI

27/10/2005

Częstochowa

Jacek BĘDKOWSKI

No

PLN 7,640

8165/16

02/02/2016

Krzysztof Maciej KISSON

20/05/1960

Warszawa

Yes

PLN 18,850

8855/16

02/02/2016

Małgorzata WORHACH

30/06/1960

Boynton Beach

No

PLN 16,500

10825/16

12/02/2016

Jarosław CZEREDYS

28/08/1964

Warszawa

No

PLN 12,110

10881/16

01/04/2016

Janina GURBAŁA

15/08/1928

Kraków

Yes

PLN 7,020

12151/16

02/02/2016

Artur ŁOŃSKI

13/08/1977

Warszawa

No

PLN 17,780

13524/16

24/02/2016

Artur ŁOŃSKI

13/08/1977

Warszawa

No

PLN 8,800

13571/16

03/03/2016

Grzegorz JAROWICZ

28/10/1978

Międzyrzecz

No

PLN 7,800

15322/16

08/03/2016

Stefan LIBAN

15/03/1946

London

No

PLN 15,400

15867/16

14/03/2016

Włodzimierz SŁOWIŃSKI

30/07/1956

BÅ‚onie

Yes

PLN 5,720

16239/16

17/03/2016

Zbigniew GAGAT

25/12/1964

Chorzów

No

PLN 8,890

16852/16

18/03/2016

Mirosław TKACZYK

09/01/1970

Katowice

Yes

PLN 7,020

19609/16

24/03/2016

Maciej Jerzy DOBROWOLSKI

03/01/1978

Warszawa

Michal KOROLCZUK

No

PLN 7,570

24018/16

23/04/2016

Artur ZARZYCKI

19/03/1977

Warszawa

No

PLN 10,370

25894/16

27/04/2016

Wojciech Janusz KUCHARSKI

23/03/1986

Chełm

No

PLN 4,240

26274/16

30/06/2016

Łukasz GRUDA

29/01/1981

Rosdorf

No

PLN 6,360

27241/16

04/05/2016

Włodzimierz SŁOWIŃSKI

30/07/1956

BÅ‚onie

Yes

PLN 9,360

32534/16

01/06/2016

Piotr MIROŃCZUK

03/06/1969

WÅ‚odawa

No

PLN 16,220

34133/16

10/06/2016

Włodzimierz SŁOWIŃSKI

30/07/1956

BÅ‚onie

Yes

PLN 6,360

36820/16

20/06/2016

Gabriela KOPROWICZ

06/11/1989

Lubaczów

Joanna GRABOWIECKA

Yes

PLN 3,900

37336/16

14/06/2016

Robert SMARDZEWSKI

14/06/1975

Lublin

No

PLN 6,240

39113/16

29/06/2016

WÅ‚odzimierz ARCIUCH

11/08/1986

Siedlce

No

PLN 7,360

44876/16

18/07/2016

Andrzej GNAÅš

13/07/1963

Chełm

No

PLN 16,220

46125/16

02/08/2016

Wiesław TARASIUK

12/12/1959

Chełm

No

PLN 10,170

48228/16

10/08/2016

Tomasz STODOLSKI

12/01/1976

Gdańsk

No

PLN 7,800

51097/16

18/08/2016

Michał SKIBIŃSKI

26/03/1989

Gdańsk

Marcin LIPSKI

Yes

PLN 17,970

51217/16

23/08/2016

Jacek SZEWCZYK

29/01/1965

Tomaszów Mazowiecki

No

PLN 28,320

51853/16

17/08/2016

Edmund PUZDROWSKI

25/01/1956

Choczewo

No

PLN 4,240

54130/16

07/09/2016

Grzegorz Michał

SMOGORZEWSKI

12/01/1971

Warszawa

No

PLN 3,240

56011/16

05/12/2015

Włodzimierz SŁOWIŃSKI

30/07/1956

BÅ‚onie

Yes

PLN 16,720

60429/16

03/10/2016

Maria WOJCIECHOWSKA

25/12/1951

Warszawa

Yes

PLN 7,800

63055/16

18/10/2016

Artur KOWALCZYK

09/07/1971

Warszawa

No

PLN 29,200

63097/16

21/10/2016

Artur KUJAWA

18/08/1971

Warszawa

No

PLN 15,600

65996/16

05/11/2016

Ryszard KORBAS

26/12/1953

SÅ‚ubice

Yes

PLN 18,720

70694/16

17/01/2017

Danuta GRABSKA

10/07/1964

Radłów

Zbigniew CICHOŃ

No

PLN 28,080

70971/16

17/11/2016

Janusz PALIAN

20/10/1962

Jaworzno

No

PLN 6,250

76691/16

28/11/2016

Piotr PIECHALAK

24/03/1973

Chorzów

No

PLN 31 ,200

77315/16

28/11/2016

Krzysztof MAĆKIEWICZ

21/01/1988

Warszawa

Yes

PLN 4,200

1269/17

27/12/2016

Jarosław MATEJUK

24/09/1968

Ruda Huta

No

PLN 16,220

1537/17

07/12/2016

Adam ZIMNY

09/06/1946

Kraków

No

PLN 2,340

6438/17

13/01/2017

Przemysław OSIŃSKI

21/01/1973

Gdańsk

No

PLN 17,840

12664/17

23/01/2017

Kazimierz IWANKIEWICZ

06/09/1949

Lipiany

Yes

PLN 11,520

21324/17

10/03/2017

Janusz NIEĆKO

09/01/1957

Łęczna

No

PLN 30,580

27925/17

04/04/2017

Helena MRÓZ

04/07/1933

Bydgoszcz

Dorota KALINOWSKA

Yes

PLN 4,680

29534/17

29/03/2017

Andrzej MUSZYŃSKI

27/10/1984

Zamość

No

PLN 6,000

33391/17

26/04/2017

Adam KAZIMIERCZUK

11/03/1962

PÅ‚ock

No

PLN 16,390

34241/17

26/04/2017

Marcin URBANEK

01/08/1976

Strzelce Opolskie

Yes

PLN 4,240

38893/17

19/05/2017

Jan ROSSA

13/04/1955

Mirków

Yes

PLN 3,820

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ZYCH AND OTHERS v. POLAND

ZYCH AND OTHERS v. POLAND

LEXI