An appellate court has upheld a jury’s verdict that the city of Mount Vernon breached its contract with Kela Tennis when it entered the tennis center and rapidly deflated a bubble over it.

The court also ordered a new trial on damages because the trial judge did not allow the city’s damages expert to testify. Mount Vernon was originally ordered to pay nearly $12 million.

Kela’s attorney called the ruling a victory, saying every issue raised by the city was rejected and the only question now is how many millions Kela will be awarded at the new trial.

City officials have not yet commented on the decision.