SECOND SECTION
CASE OF DE LEONARDIS v. ITALY
(Application no. 33529/96)
JUDGMENT
(Friendly settlement)
STRASBOURG
5 April 2001
In the case of De Leonardis v. Italy,
The European Court of Human Rights (Second Section), sitting as a Chamber composed of:
MrC.L. Rozakis, President,
MrA.B. Baka,
MrG. Bonello,
MrP. Lorenzen,
MrsM. Tsatsa-Nikolovska,
MrE. Levits,
MrA. Kovler, judges,
and Mr E. Fribergh, Section Registrar,
Having deliberated in private on 15 March 2001,
Delivers the following judgment, which was adopted on that date:
PROCEDURE
1. The case originated in an application (no. 33529/96) against Italy lodged with the European Commission of Human Rights (“the Commission”) under former Article 25 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (“the Convention”) by an Italian national, Mrs Elena Maria De Leonardis (“the applicant”), on 11 July 1996.
2. The applicant was represented by Mr E. Bracaglia, a lawyer practising in Rome. The Italian Government (“the Government”) were represented by their Agent, Mr U. Leanza, and by their co-agent, Mr V. Esposito.
3. The applicant complained about her prolonged inability - through lack of police assistance - to recover possession of her apartment and about the duration of the eviction proceedings.
4. On 30 May 2000, after obtaining the parties’ observations, the Court declared the application admissible.
5. On 1 February 2001 and on 29 January 2001, the applicant and the Agent of the Government respectively submitted formal declarations proposing a friendly settlement of the case.
THE FACTS
6. The applicant is the owner of an apartment in Rome, which she had let to E.M. In a registered letter of 6 May 1991, the applicant informed the tenant that she intended to terminate the lease on expiry of the term on 1 January 1992 and asked him to vacate the premises by that date.
7. On 8 May 1991, she served a notice to quit on the tenant, but he refused to leave.
8. In a writ served on the tenant on 17 March 1992, the applicant reiterated her intention to terminate the lease and summoned the tenant to appear before the Rome Magistrate.
9. On 30 June 1992, the Rome Magistrate upheld the validity of the notice to quit and ordered that the premises be vacated by 31 May 1993. That decision was made enforceable on 14 July 1992.
10. On 24 June 1992, the applicant served notice on the tenant requiring him to vacate the premises.
11. On 15 July 1993, she served notice on the tenant informing him that the order for possession would be enforced by a bailiff on 30 July 1993.
12. Between 30 July 1993 and 6 July 1999 the bailiff made 28 attempts to recover possession. Each attempt proved unsuccessful, as the applicant was not entitled to police assistance in enforcing the order for possession.
13. In September 1999, the tenant died and the applicant repossessed the apartment.
THE LAW
14. On 29 January 2001, the Court received the following declaration from the Government:
“I declare that the Government of Italy offer to pay 105,000,000 ITL to Mrs Elena Maria De Leonardis with a view to securing a friendly settlement of the application registered under no. 33529/96. This sum shall cover any pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage as well as costs, and it will be payable immediately after the notification of the judgment delivered by the Court pursuant to Article 39 of the European Convention on Human Rights. This payment will constitute the final resolution of the case.
This declaration does not entail any acknowledgement by the Government of a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights in the present case.
The Government further undertake not to request the reference of the case to the Grand Chamber under Article 43 § 1 of the Convention.”
15. On 1 February 2001, the Court received the following declaration signed by the applicant:
“We note that the Government of Italy are prepared to pay a sum totalling 105,000,000 ITL covering both pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage and costs to Mrs Elena Maria De Leonardis with a view to securing a friendly settlement of application no. 33529/96 pending before the Court.
We accept the proposal and waive any further claims in respect of Italy relating to the facts of this application. We declare that the case is definitely settled.
This declaration is made in the context of a friendly settlement which the Government and the applicant have reached.
We further undertake not to request the reference of the case to the Grand Chamber under Article 43 § 1 of the Convention after the delivery of the Court’s judgment.”
16. The Court takes note of the agreement reached between the parties (Article 39 of the Convention). It is satisfied that the settlement is based on respect for human rights as defined in the Convention or its Protocols (Article 37 § 1 in fine of the Convention and Rule 62 § 3 of the Rules of Court).
17. Accordingly, the case should be struck out of the list.
FOR THESE REASONS, THE COURT UNANIMOUSLY
1. Decides to strike the case out of the list;
2. Takes note of the parties’ undertaking not to request a rehearing of the case before the Grand Chamber.
Done in English, and notified in writing on 5 April 2001 pursuant to Rule 77 §§ 2 and 3 of the Rules of Court.
Erik FriberghChristos Rozakis
RegistrarPresident
Full & Egal Universal Law Academy