Bizzotto v. Italy



In the case of Bizzotto v. Italy (1),

The Screening Panel of the European Court of Human Rights,

constituted in accordance with Article 48 para. 2 (art. 48-2) of the

Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms

("the Convention") and Rule 26 of Rules of Court B (2),

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Notes by the Registrar

1 The case is numbered 94/1996/713/910. The first number is the

case's position on the list of cases referred to the Court in the

relevant year (second number). The last two numbers indicate the

case's position on the list of cases referred to the Court since its

creation and on the list of the corresponding originating applications

to the Commission.

2 Rules of Court B, which came into force on 2 October 1994, apply

to all cases concerning the States bound by Protocol No. 9 (P9).

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Sitting in private at Strasbourg on 27 September 1996, and

composed of the following judges:

Mr R. Macdonald, Chairman,

Mr C. Russo,

Mr A. Spielmann,

and also of Mr H. Petzold, Registrar,

Having regard to the application against the Italian Republic

lodged with the Court on 4 June 1996 by an Italian national,

Mr Ferruccio Bizzotto, within the three-month period laid down by

Article 32 para. 1 and Article 47 (art. 32-1, art. 47) of the

Convention;

Whereas Italy has recognised the compulsory jurisdiction of the

Court (Article 46 of the Convention) (art. 46) and ratified

Protocol No. 9 (P9) to the Convention, Article 5 (P9-5) of which amends

Article 48 (art. 48) of the Convention so as to enable a person,

non-governmental organisation or group of individuals having lodged a

complaint with the European Commission of Human Rights ("the

Commission") to refer the case to the Court;

Noting that the present case has not been referred to the Court

by either the Government of the respondent State or the Commission

under Article 48 para. 1 (a) or (d) (art. 48-1-a, art. 48-1-d) of the

Convention;

Having regard to the Commission's report of 5 March 1996 on the

application (no. 26845/95) lodged with the Commission by Mr Bizzotto

on 8 March 1994;

Whereas the applicant complained of the length of proceedings in

the Italian civil courts, to which he was a party, and alleged a breach

of Article 6 para. 1 (art. 6-1) of the Convention, under which "In the

determination of his civil rights and obligations ..., everyone is

entitled to a ... hearing within a reasonable time by [a] ... tribunal

...";

Whereas the applicant, in specifying the object of his

application, as required by Rule 34 para. 1 (a) of Rules of Court B,

stated that he sought a decision by the Court because the length of the

proceedings in issue was intolerable and constituted a denial of

justice, because the question raised went beyond the limits of the case

under consideration, and because Italy had still not organised its

judicial system in such a way as to comply with the requirement that

proceedings be conducted within a reasonable time, in spite of the

Court's ruling in the Capuano judgment of 25 June 1987;

Having regard to Article 48 (art. 48) of the Convention and

Rule 34 paras. 1 (a), 3 and 4 of Rules of Court B,

1 Finds that

(a) the case raises no serious question affecting the

interpretation or application of the Convention, as the

Court has already established case-law on the "reasonable

time" requirement in Article 6 para. 1 (art. 6-1) of the

Convention, to which the applicant, moreover, referred

himself; and

(b) the case does not, for any other reason, warrant

consideration by the Court as, in the event of a finding

that there has been a breach of the Convention, the

Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe can award

the applicant just satisfaction, having regard to any

proposals made by the Commission;

2 Decides, therefore, unanimously, that the case will not be

considered by the Court.

Done in English and in French, and notified in writing on

21 October 1996 pursuant to Rule 34 para. 4 of Rules of Court B.

Signed: Ronald MACDONALD

Chairman

Signed: Herbert PETZOLD

Registrar