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Austria Special Courts
Cases outside the jurisdiction of these courts are heard in
special courts. For example, labor courts decide civil cases
concerning employment. Employers and employees are represented in
labor court hearings. Cases involving the Stock and Commodity
Exchange and the Exchange for Agricultural Products are decided
by the Court of Arbitration, which is composed of members of the
exchanges. Social insurance cases are heard by the provincial
commissions for social insurance. The Patent Court decides
appeals of patent cases.
The People's Attorney
The Office of the People's Attorney, which was created in
1977 and granted constitutional recognition in 1981, functions in
a manner similar to an ombudsman's office. It is designed to
assist citizens who believe that they have been improperly
treated by government administration. The office can also
initiate its own investigations if it suspects that particular
government offices are engaged in corruption or fraud. After
concluding its investigations, the office has the authority to
issue binding recommendations to government offices to rectify
abuses.
Data as of December 1993
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