Dickstein Shapiro collapsed more than two years ago, and a former California partner at the firm, Clyde Hettrick, has been dead nearly five years. But Hettrick’s time at Dickstein is still generating fresh litigation, with an excess insurer for the firm filing a federal lawsuit April 6 aimed at shedding potential responsibility for a chunk of a $64 million malpractice verdict.

Facing a possible $4.35 million obligation, Scottsdale Insurance Co. said in a complaint filed in California’s Central District that Dickstein’s primary policy holders invited the 2014 verdict by their refusal to defend the firm in a malpractice suit against Hettrick brought by onetime client Manhattan Beachwear LLC.