The North Carolina Court of Appeals last week threw out an appeal by H&E Equipment Services of an award of about $20 million to Sunbelt Rentals. The award was $15 million plus recovery of legal costs and pre and post-judgment interest.

The case was based on a claim by Sunbelt in 2000, before Sunbelt acquired BET USA, that H&E executed a plan to develop its aerial work platform rental business by raiding more than 100 staff from BET to open competing rental stores in seven major markets.

H&E has the right to challenge the judgment of the Court of Appeal by November 22.

Both Sunbelt and H&E are in the top 10 of the RER 100 — Sunbelt is No. 4 and H&E, based in Baton Rouge, La., is No. 10.