A New York law firm has beat back a damages suit over its representation of a New Jersey client by a lawyer not admitted in the Garden State.

A judge dismissed a suit against Davidson, Dawson & Clark, based on the plaintiff's failure to obtain expert testimony showing a link between the defendant's alleged mishandling of the case and any damages to the plaintiff.

The plaintiff has vowed to appeal Tuesday's ruling in the case, which is a rare application of a New Jersey statute providing a civil remedy for the unauthorized practice of law.