ESSA Bancorp Inc. got a victory in court as a lawsuit over alleged unearned fees and kickbacks was dismissed, though the plaintiff is appealing the ruling, the Stroudsburg, Pa.-based company disclosed.

A court sided with ESSA Bancorp on Jan. 29 in dismissing the lawsuit, which alleges that a bank that ESSA had acquired had violated the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act by receiving unearned fees and kickbacks when making loans.

Preliminary arguments on the case are due next month, according to the company's latest 10-Q report.