The excessive length and ineffectiveness of civil proceedings affect the right to life
JUDGMENT
Fergec v. Croatia 9-5-2017 (no.68516/14)
SUMMARY
Right to life. Inefficient and long-lasting civil procedures. Conviction of Croatia. The long duration (16 years) and the inefficiency of civilian procedures for the serious injury of a grenade soldier violate the right to life.
PROVISION
Article 2
PRINCIPAL FACTS
The applicants, Sandra Fergec and Neven Fergec, husband and wife, are Croatian nationals who were born in 1971 and 1974 respectively and live in Sesvete (Croatia). Mr Fergec was gravely injured in December 1996 when a member of the Croatian army activated a hand grenade in a pizza parlour.
The case concerned the civil proceedings the applicants brought against the State in 1998 for damages following the incident: Mr Fergec on account of his injuries as well as the resulting permanent consequences for his health and inability to work; and Ms Fergec on account of the stress and fear she had suffered when arriving on the scene of the incident to find her husband lying on the floor covered in blood.
The applicants’ claim was ultimately dismissed in 2011. The national courts found that the State was not liable for Mr Fergec’s injuries as the military serviceman, who had been off duty at the time of the incident and used a grenade with no connection to the State, had been acting in a private and not official capacity.
THE DECISION OF THE COURT
Relying on Article 2 (right to life) of the European Convention on Human Rights, the applicants complained about the excessive length – almost 16 years – and ineffectiveness of the civil proceedings.
Violation of Article 2 – in respect of Mr Fergec
Just satisfaction: 7,830 euros (EUR) (non-pecuniary damage) and EUR 5,725 (costs and expenses) to Mr Fergec