A federal appeals court has rejected State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co.'s appeal to block a class-action lawsuit filed against the company related to its involvement in aiding the election of an Illinois Supreme Court justice, Corporate Counsel reported.

The case has been sent back to a U.S. District Court in East St. Louis, Ill., where the trial will begin. State Farm will continue to defend its position, spokesman Justin Tomczak told Corporate Counsel.

The company is said to have been involved in the 2004 election of Lloyd Karmeier to the Supreme Court of Illinois so he would overturn a state court verdict. The company was facing a $1.05 billion judgment after policyholders accused State Farm of using auto parts of poor quality to repair damaged vehicles.