Deputy Regional Development Minister: out-of-court settlement with property owners unlikely

Deputy Minister for Regional Development Miroslav Kalous has said an out-of-court settlement between property owners who are suing the Czech state over alleged damages incurred by the country's system of controlled rent is unlikely. The possibility of an out-of-court settlement was put forward by the property owners on Friday as a way of preventing a trial at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. The property owners have demanded 50 billion crowns (the equivalent of 2.4 billion USD) from the state which the Ministry for Regional Development has refused to pay.