Qwest-Peerless Legal Fight in Denver Stayed, Moved to ADR

U.S. District Judge Daniel Domenico in Denver signed an order Thursday granting the unopposed motion of defendant Peerless Network in its legal fight with Qwest, Level 3 Communications and Global Crossing to stay the case and move the proceeding before Magistrate Judge Kristen Mix in Denver for alternative dispute resolution. The ADR process ultimately “will help facilitate settlement and/or resolution of this matter while avoiding the potentially significant delay and cost associated with further litigation or a referral to the FCC,” said Peerless’ Oct. 7 motion (docket 1:21-cv-03004). The case involves negotiated interconnect agreements and the access tariffs associated with them. Qwest, Level 3 and Global Crossing sued Peerless affiliates in eight states in November, alleging among other accusations that they engaged in a scheme of avoiding mandatory switched access charges, thereby giving them an unfair competitive advantage in the toll-free marketplace. The defendants countersued in March alleging the companies used unfair and unsupported billing methods, plus other accusations.