The African nation of Malawi’s bid to seek $309 billion from a Vancouver gem wholesaler appears to be at its end.

U.S. District Court Judge David Estudillo issued a new decision in the case Monday, overriding a previous decision allowing the Malawian government to seek information from Columbia Gem House in connection with a pending criminal investigation into an African mining operation.

The African government alleged the mining company, Nyala Mines Limited, was mining illegally from its operation on Chimwadzulu Hill in southern Malawi and misreporting what had been mined. The Vancouver-based Columbia Gem House served as the exclusive cutter and wholesaler for Nyala’s gemstones from the Chimwadzulu mine.

Chad Colton of Portland law firm Markowitz Herbold PC, who is representing Colum

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