15
DOMBO BEHEER B.V. v. THE NETHERLANDS JUDGMENT
The Court agrees with the Commission that as regards litigation
involving opposing private interests, "equality of arms" implies that each
party must be afforded a reasonable opportunity to present his case including his evidence - under conditions that do not place him at a
substantial disadvantage vis-à-vis his opponent.
It is left to the national authorities to ensure in each individual case that
the requirements of a "fair hearing" are met.
34. In the instant case, it was incumbent upon the applicant company to
prove that there was an oral agreement between it and the Bank to extend
certain credit facilities. Only two persons had been present at the meeting at
which this agreement had allegedly been reached, namely Mr van
Reijendam representing the applicant company and Mr van W. representing
the Bank. Yet only one of these two key persons was permitted to be heard,
namely the person who had represented the Bank. The applicant company
was denied the possibility of calling the person who had represented it,
because the Court of Appeal identified him with the applicant company
itself.
35. During the relevant negotiations Mr van Reijendam and Mr van W.
acted on an equal footing, both being empowered to negotiate on behalf of
their respective parties. It is therefore difficult to see why they should not
both have been allowed to give evidence.
The applicant company was thus placed at a substantial disadvantage visà-vis the Bank and there has accordingly been a violation of Article 6 para.
1 (art. 6-1).
II. APPLICATION OF ARTICLE 50 (art. 50)
36. According to Article 50 (art. 50) of the Convention,
"If the Court finds that a decision or a measure taken by a legal authority or any
other authority of a High Contracting Party is completely or partially in conflict with
the obligations arising from the ... Convention, and if the internal law of the said Party
allows only partial reparation to be made for the consequences of this decision or
measure, the decision of the Court shall, if necessary, afford just satisfaction to the
injured party." A. Pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage
37. In its memorial the applicant company sought compensation for
pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage without specifying exact amounts. In
subsequent documents setting out its claims in greater detail, Dombo stated
that it did not consider them to be ready for decision. In its view, it was
necessary for the pecuniary damage suffered as a result of the Bank’s
actions complained of and the damage resulting from the dismissal of its
claims by the national courts to be assessed by accountants; such an
assessment would also provide an indication of the extent of the nonpecuniary damage suffered.