An appeals court has reinstated a host of civil claims against Denver developer Brian Watson, overturning a lower-court ruling that had been favorable to him.

The decision by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals means Watson, the owner and CEO of Northstar Commercial Partners, again must defend himself against Amazon’s claims that he committed fraud and racketeering in connection with the development of data centers for the tech giant in northern Virginia.

The appeals court determined that “ genuine disputes of material fact ” remain on those claims.

The decision means a court battle that began in April 2020 , and which once featured a parallel criminal investigation that federal prosecutors abandoned in unusual fashion , will continue.

“It’s a disappointment — I don’t know that it’s a

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