A former employee and a Lincoln-based student loan company have dropped their lawsuits against each other.

Lawyers for Nelnet and Rudy Vigil filed for a dismissal that was approved last week in U.S. District Court.

Nelnet spokesman Ben Kiser says the company settled because it doesn't believe Vigil could pay any judgment if he lost in court.

Vigil, who lives in Commerce City, Colo., joined Nelnet in 2003 and was fired in January 2005. He sued Nelnet, and they settled in October 2005.

In 2007, Vigil filed a federal lawsuit as a whistle-blower under the False Claims Act, accusing the company of improperly collecting federal subsidies.

The lawsuit was dismissed.

Nelnet said that lawsuit violated its 2005 agreement with Vigil.

Vigil filed a counterclaim.