A federal lawsuit alleging the state knew about radon dangers at a Connecticut prison, but failed to act for decades, can proceed to trial, a three-member panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has ruled.

The ruling came in Thursday afternoon. The litigation lists lead plaintiff Harry Vega and 13 other current or former prisoners of the Garner Correctional Institution in Newtown. Defendants include the Connecticut Department of Correction, along with numerous officials from that department.