Judge dismisses lawsuit filed by KPNQwest bankruptcy trustees against Qwest, ex-executives

Judge dismisses lawsuit concerning KPNQwest, Qwest

DENVER — A federal judge has dismissed a racketeering lawsuit that two bankruptcy trustees for Denver-based Qwest’s Dutch joint venture filed against Qwest.

U.S. District Judge Robert Blackburn ruled March 31 that Dutch courts should be able to address the matter and dismissed the case without prejudice.

The lawsuit filed by E.T. Meijer and Marcel Windt argued that fraud and mismanagement by Qwest Communications International Inc. and three former executives, including former CEO Joe Nacchio, led to KPNQwest’s financial ruin.

Meijer and Windt originally sued in New Jersey, where judges also said the matter should be handled by Dutch courts.

KPNQwest was a venture between Qwest and Dutch phone company Royal KPN.