A putative class action for civil racketeering against a law firm and bank over allegedly improper foreclosure practices was thrown out of federal court on Tuesday.

Chief U.S. District Judge Jerome Simandle said Phelan Hallinan & Schmieg and Wells Fargo Bank were shielded by the Noerr-Pennington doctrine, which protects the First Amendment right to petition the government for redress of grievances.