An Essex County, N.J., judge has granted defunct law firm Ravin Sarasohn the right to pursue a claim that Lowenstein Sandler, New Jersey’s second-largest firm, was complicit in the theft of confidential information, used it to woo key defectors and caused Ravin Sarasohn’s demise.

Superior Court Judge Donald Goldman on March 16 rejected Lowenstein Sandler’s argument that a ruling in a related arbitration estopped Ravin Sarasohn and mandated dismissal of the claim.