LAVENTILLE-based contractor Eastman Enterprise Ltd has approached the Court of Appeal to lift the High Court’s stay of its lawsuit against the Cepep Company Ltd over the April termination of more than 300 contracts.

The appeal, filed on August 14, comes days after Cepep signalled its intention to sue its former board for breach of fiduciary duty over the same contract extensions days before the April 28 general election, which could cost the state an estimated $1.4 billion.

Eastman also wants an order to send its lawsuit and injunction application back to the High Court before another judge, a declaration that the referral to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) was procedurally improper and unlawful and if the court rules in its favour, for the Appeal Court’s order and decision to be sent to the DPP.