The Georgia Court of Appeals has partially revived a lawsuit by a community activist and self-described pastor seeking payment for his services to the family of Kathryn Johnston, the 96-year-old woman slain by Atlanta police in 2006.

After Johnston’s estate settled with the city of Atlanta for $4.9 million, Markel Hutchins said he was due 10 percent of the money according to an purported verbal agreement with Johnston’s niece and estate administrator, the late Sarah Dozier.