(AP) — A federal appellate court has reinstated several portions of a lawsuit brought by five Nebraska guards who alleged their prison was a racially hostile workplace.

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday overruled a judge who said the guards’ allegations didn’t meet the exacting standard required for such a distinction.

The guards filed the lawsuit in 2010, saying they were subject to racially charged comments and other bias at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln. It named several officials in the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services. The lawsuit dismissal came in 2012.

A spokeswoman for the department declined to comment.