State appeals large compensation ruling

The Czech Republic has appealed an arbitration ruling under which it was ordered to pay nearly CZK 9 billion (over USD 500 million) to the company Diag Human for harming its blood plasma business, Czech Television reported. The Czech state is demanding that the decision be reassessed by new arbitrators. Meanwhile, the firm says it also wants a new hearing under new, non-Czech arbitrators; it argues that the compensation ordered is too low. The case began in the early 1990s when the then Czech health minister sent a letter to Danish company Novo Nordisk, after which it ceased doing business with Diag Human. In 1998 an arbitration panel recognised the latter’s right to compensation; the wrangling since then has been about how much.