U.S. District Judge Denny Chin said that certain key claims in the complaint filed by the sister of Louis Conradt, an assistant district attorney, can proceed to trial.

Chin let the case go forward on claims of intentional infliction of emotional distress and violation of civil rights and he also said that if the allegations were proven, a reasonable jury could find NBC crossed the line from responsible journalism to irresponsible and reckless intrusion into law enforcement.

A spokeswoman for NBC said that the company will continue to defend itself vigorously.

The spokeswoman said that the evidence will show that 'Dateline' acted responsibly and lawfully and she said that the judge's ruling was based solely on the plaintiff's version of the facts.

Conradt, 56, killed himself after he was confronted at his home by police officers, who were accompanied by an NBC crew that was there to film the arrest for the "To Catch a Predator" show.

Patricia Conradt, his sister, sued the network and claimed that Dateline was responsible for his death and the harm to his reputation.

NBC argues that it owed Conradt no duty to protect him from suicide.