In the case of Rizzo 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 62/1996/681/871. 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 28 June 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 25 April 1996 by an Italian national,
Mr Vittorio Rizzo, within the three-month period laid down by
Article 32 para. 1 and Article 47 (art. 32-1, art. 47) of the
Convention;
Noting that the applicant, initially referred to by the letters
V.R., agreed, after he had brought the case before the Court, to the
disclosure of his identity;
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 23 January 1996 on
the application (no. 26401/95) lodged with the Commission by Mr Rizzo
on 14 May 1993;
Whereas the applicant complained of the length of proceedings in
an Italian civil court, to which he is 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 holding that there had
been a breach of Article 6 para. 1 (art. 6-1) of the Convention and
ordering the respondent State to compensate him for the damage he had
allegedly sustained on account of the length of the proceedings in
issue;
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; 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
31 July 1996 pursuant to Rule 34 para. 4 of Rules of Court B.
Signed: Ronald MACDONALD
Chairman
Signed: Herbert PETZOLD
Registrar
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