DISSENTING OPINION OF MR P. LORENZEN

I regret not being able to share the conclusion of the majority that there has been a violation of Article 6 para. 1 of the Convention in the present case.

In my opinion, a decision of a national court regarding the formal requirements for lodging an appeal in a civil case does not involve the determination of "civil rights and obligations" within the meaning of Article 6 para. 1 of the Convention. In this respect I refer to the arguments in my dissenting opinion in the case J.J. v. the Netherlands, No. 21351/93, Dec. 15.10.96, which is pending before the European Court of Human Rights.