Lawyer appeals court's refusal to declare Social Democrat party bankrupt

Lawyer Zdenek Altner who is suing the opposition Social Democrats for almost 20 billion crowns in unpaid fees has appealed against the refusal by the Prague City Court to declare the party bankrupt and start bankruptcy proceedings against it. Mr Altner told journalists on Friday that the court's verdict was an instruction for debtors on how to avoid paying their debts and how to avoid bankruptcy proceedings. Another Social Democrats' creditor has also appealed the verdict with the Prague High Court. Mr Altner says that the Social Democrats owe him 93 million crowns in unpaid legal fees for representing the party in a court dispute with the Finance Ministry over its Prague headquarters Lidovy dum in 2000. According to Mr Altner, the sum plus interests and late-payment penalties has risen to almost 20 billion crowns.