A judge has ruled Shannan Gilbert’s estate can move forward with a lawsuit against the doctor she allegedly met the final night she was seen alive.

In the lawsuit filed in 2012, Gilbert’s late mother claimed Dr. Peter Hackett treated Gilbert at a halfway home she said he ran at his Oak Beach home.

Hackett has denied the claims and says he never met Gilbert.

The doctor tried to have the lawsuit dismissed. However, a judge ruled there is enough evidence for the emotional distress claimed to move forward.

Gilbert’s disappearance sparked the search that led to the discovery of 10 sets of human remains along Ocean Parkway.

However, police believe Gilbert’s death was an unrelated accident.

News 12 reached out to Hackett’s attorneys but have not heard back.