A state judge has denied Danbury’s request to dismiss a key claim in the lawsuit filed by former finance director David St. Hilaire. St. Hilaire alleges the city fired him without cause and breached his retirement agreement. The ruling pushes the case closer to trial. Danbury had argued St. Hilaire couldn’t seek damages because he agreed to resign, but the judge disagreed. The city had earlier offered $125,000 to settle, but St. Hilaire did not respond.