A state appellate court Wednesday ruled former Conrad & Scherer partner William J. Wichmann could proceed with three of five counterclaims against the Fort Lauderdale firm in a case with “a fact scenario rivaling those that might be found in a John Grisham novel.”

Wichmann “abruptly resigned” from Conrad & Scherer in February 2009, “stealthily” taking 120 files, software, original documents and work product, according to a recitation of claims from the law firm’s complaint, cited in the Fourth District Court of Appeal ruling.