State brief

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Former Northwest Airlines chief executive John Dasburg has filed a lawsuit against the airline to recover nearly $430,000 in pension benefits.

The airline denies it, but in the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court here Monday, Dasburg contends he is owed $428,073. He claims that Northwest agreed to pay him $449,799 in a lump sum, but that he has only received $21,726.

Dasburg left the airline last year to become chairman, chief executive officer and president of Burger King Corp. Northwest spokesman Bill Mellon said the airline "intends to defend the litigation vigorously." In a statement approved by the Eagan-based airline's top executives, Mellon said, "Northwest is surprised and disappointed by the litigation because it was Northwest's expectation that good faith negotiations would have resolved all outstanding matters."

Dasburg led Northwest through a tumultuous period during his tenure.