Izabela Dorn, the third wife of late Polish opposition figure Ludwik Dorn, has filed a one‑million‑zloty compensation claim with Warsaw’s District Court, citing the hardships endured during his fight against communism.
Fight for Compensation
Izabela Dorn’s lawsuit is pending before the Warsaw District Court. Under current law she can seek damages for the suffering and sacrifices endured by her husband, the former opposition leader. The claim draws attention to Dorn’s role in defending freedom and calls for an evaluation of his past spouses and daughters in the case.
Activities of Ludwik Dorn
Born in 1955, Dorn began his opposition work in 1971 with the Committee for the Defense of Workers and played an active role in defending arrested laborers. He was detained in 1980, and after his release founded the Social Research Center of the Solidarity movement in the Mazovia region, carrying out public opinion polls. Following the declaration of martial law, a warrant was issued for him, and he went into hiding in Warsaw and Gdańsk. Dorn later became a leading figure in Solidarity circles and a co‑founder of the Law and Justice party. Throughout his political career he served as Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration, Deputy Prime Minister, and Marshal of the Sejm, before dying in 2022 at age 67.
Increasing Number of People Applying for Compensation
Prosecutor Stanisław Wieśniakowski explained that the legal fight now focuses solely on the amount of compensation sought. His 20‑year experience with claims under the 1991 “February Law” enables persecuted individuals and their families—spouses and children—to file against the State Treasury. He noted a growing trend in Poland of individuals pursuing these claims.