Successful malicious prosecution suits are few and far between—as they should be. Lawyers need to feel free to advocate zealously without worrying about getting sued if they lose.

But a team from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher got a green light last week to proceed in a malicious prosecution case against half a dozen lawyers in Southern California, including one who has counted entertainers such as Rod Stewart, Elton John, Bob Dylan, Nick Nolte and Sean Connery as clients.