Dispute with municipality regarding damages caused by invalid administrative acts concluded

Rockbridge Legal and its partner Viktorija Jarkina-Toča assisted a client in a dispute with a municipality regarding compensation for damages. The process has concluded with a settlement.

The client sought legal assistance regarding long-standing litigation over ownership rights to several plots of land. The case evaluated previous municipal decisions on the allocation of land for use and ownership. In the case regarding the recognition of ownership rights, the Regional Court declared these decisions invalid and found in its judgment that the relevant administrative acts were issued unlawfully.

Due to these decisions, the client was forced to engage in litigation in which the municipality also participated as a co-defendant. One of the damage claims concerned expenses for legal assistance from a sworn advocate in this process—expenses that would not have been incurred if the unlawful administrative acts had not been issued.

After the judgment entered into force, the client submitted an application to the municipality for compensation of damages. Evaluating the situation and taking into account the court’s findings, the municipality decided to enter into a settlement (administrative agreement), providing for the termination of the dispute, a municipal apology for the situation, and compensation for damages by reimbursing the client’s legal fees.

The client’s interests always come first. Everyone has the right to defend their interests in court, but in our client’s case, a settlement is a victory and the most effective way to resolve the dispute. We are pleased with our client’s success in this matter.