Peterson's attorneys end effort to block lawsuit

JOLIET _ Drew Peterson's attorneys have withdrawn a motion seeking to block efforts by his third wife's family to file a wrongful-death lawsuit.

Kathleen Savio's family filed a petition to reopen her estate in February. A Will County judge granted the request in April and named Savio's father and sister as new executors. Peterson's attorneys appealed the ruling.

Peterson attorney Joel Brodsky said Thursday that he withdrew the motion to delay court proceedings to reopen Savio's estate because he expects the Illinois Appellate Court to decide on the appeal soon.

Savio was found dead in an empty bathtub in 2004, weeks before her divorce from the former Bolingbrook police sergeant became final.

Peterson denies any involvement in Savio's death or the disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy.