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TRO bars CUC from disconnecting CHC
Superior Court Associate Judge David A. Wiseman issued Wednesday a temporary restraining order preventing the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. from disconnecting utility services to the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.
Wiseman said CHCC, which runs the Commonwealth Health Center, would suffer immediate and irreparable injury if CUC disconnects any of its utility services as the hospital would be unable to provide critical healthcare and public health services to the public.
CUC claims the hospital owes it $9,690,875.67, together with pre-judgment interest, for utility services. CUC has threatened to disconnect the hospital if it fails to at least pay its monthly bill in full, amounting to some $539,000.
CHCC then asked the court to issue a TRO and preliminary injunction against CUC.
The hearing on the motion for preliminary injunction will be held on May 29, 2014, at 1:30am.
According to CUC’s lawsuit filed in December 2013, CHCC is indebted to CUC for utility services in the principal sum of $9,690,875.67, together with pre-judgment interest. It was last reported that the hospital owes CUC $11 million in past due accounts.
In separate lawsuits filed last December, CUC, through counsel Michael White, also sued the Public School System and the CNMI government to collect on unpaid utility billings.
White said PSS and the CNMI government are indebted to CUC, for utility services in the principal sum of $5,936,931.55 and $1,241,137 respectively together with pre-judgment interest.
