A legal battle between Amazon and two former real estate managers at Amazon Web Services has ended in settlement, according to reporting by GeekWire. The company notified the court of the resolution on 20 October, just days before the scheduled trial date.

Carl Nelson and Casey Kirschner, the two ex-managers at the centre of the dispute, acknowledged in a joint statement that they had violated Amazon's code of conduct. Their statement, as reported by GeekWire, made no reference to the payments as kickbacks or addressed whether they constituted illegal activity. The specifics of the settlement, including any financial terms, remain under confidentiality agreements.

They regret their actions, apologize for failing to meet Amazon's high ethical standards

joint statement from Nelson and Kirschner, as quoted by GeekWire

Rodney Atherton, a Colorado-based attorney who established business entities for both men, also reached a settlement with Amazon. The terms of his agreement have not been made public.

Amazon initiated the lawsuit in 2020, alleging that the managers had received improper payments in connection with Northern Virginia property transactions and had directed business opportunities to specific developers in exchange. Nelson became the subject of an FBI investigation, though he was never charged with any crime.

The legal proceedings took several turns through the court system. A federal judge dismissed the majority of Amazon's claims in 2023, but a federal appeals court reversed that decision in September 2025, reinstating multiple counts including racketeering and fraud allegations. The case was then returned to trial.

The dispute is far from concluded, however. Amazon continues its case against Brian Watson, a Denver-based developer, and his company Northstar Commercial Partners. According to Amazon's allegations, Northstar secured nine data centre projects between 2018 and 2020 through improper payments, a claim Watson has rejected.

The trial involving Watson and Northstar is scheduled to begin on 2 November in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia. Watson and his firm have requested that the judge compel Amazon to disclose the settlement agreement reached with the former managers.

Source: The Next Web