Allowing medical malpractice attorney Nancy Raynor to bring a Dragonetti Act lawsuit against the lawyers who slammed her with a nearly $1 million sanctions bid could result in a flood of similar wrongful use of civil proceedings actions based on sanctions and contempt motions, attorneys argued before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

The justices heard arguments Wednesday in the case, captioned Raynor v. D’Annunzio, with the session focusing on the question of what constitutes civil proceedings that could form the basis of a lawsuit under the Dragonetti Act. A ruling from the justices could provide clarity for attorneys about exactly what types of conduct could subject them to liability under the act.