A federal appeals court has revived a lawsuit brought by a group of former Detroit trial court employees against now retired chief judge Marylin Atkins for improper termination.

On Wednesday in Rodgers v. 36th District Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed Eastern District of Michigan Judge Julian Abele Cook’s August 2011 denial of Atkins’ motion for summary judgment of 14 plaintiffs’ claims. Cook granted summary judgment to Atkins on three claims.