A New Jersey appeals court has rejected a motion to disqualify Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer from representing the defendant in a high-stakes legal malpractice suit, where an arbitrator in the case joined the Wilentz firm.

Appellate Division Judges Carmen Messano, Allison Accurso and Catherine Enright affirmed a ruling by Essex County Superior Court Judge Keith Lynott, who found no cause to disqualify Wilentz from representing Mazie, Slater, Katz & Freeman.