A federal judge has declined to recuse from a contract case, dismissing claims from the plaintiff's lawyer that she was too pointed in her questioning of him during prior oral arguments and that a professional relationship with an attorney from another firm disqualifies her.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Leda Dunn Wettre of the District of New Jersey denied the recusal motion Monday in Estate of Grieco v. National Medical Consultants.

Wettre, sitting in Newark, said claims by an attorney for the plaintiff-estate, Morristown solo Caesar Brazza, were unfounded and based largely on expectations of an unfavorable ruling on a motion to disqualify him.