A California appeals court has overturned a $5 million judgment against author Clive Cussler in a long-running lawsuit over the film "Sahara."

The ruling issued Wednesday in Los Angeles could restart the legal feud.

Cussler was ordered to pay the $5 million to a production company owned by billionaire Philip Anschutz as the result of a contract dispute involving the film adaptation of "Sahara."

The movie, based on a book by Cussler, was a flop.

The author was later ordered to pay $13.9 million in legal fees to Crusader Entertainment, now known as Bristol Bay Productions.