A legal malpractice suit against foreclosure defense attorney Robert Lithman and two associated firms has new life after the Fourth District Court of Appeal on Wednesday allowed one of the plaintiffs to proceed with the litigation.

Lithman and law firms Robert P. Lithman P.A. and Orshan Lithman Seiden Ramos Hatton Huesmann & Fajardo are defendants in a suit by former clients who accuse them of mishandling a $9.7 million lawsuit by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.