By Joshua Freed
The Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS - Microsoft Corp. cleared another lawsuit from its legal docket Monday, settling a class-action case filed by Minnesota customers who said the software giant overcharged them in violation of antitrust laws.

The settlement interrupted a jury trial that was expected to last several more weeks. Attorneys for the plaintiffs had said they were seeking as much as $505 million.

The suit alleged that Microsoft violated Minnesota antitrust law by overcharging for its Windows operating system and its Excel and Word programs.

The company denied the overcharges, saying prices for its products had dropped.

The settlement's dollar amount was not released. Some provisions will be resolved in arbitration, with the final settlement presented to the judge by July 1, plaintiff's attorney Richard Hagstrom said.

Microsoft spokeswoman Stacy Drake said the settlement would be made public when presented to the judge.

Class-action antitrust cases against the world's biggest software company are still pending in Iowa, New Mexico, Vermont, Nebraska, and Massachusetts, while cases in New York, Ohio and Wisconsin have either been dismissed or denied class-action status. Plaintiffs in those states are appealing, Drake said.

Microsoft shares closed up 37 cents at $25.53.