A judge has lifted the stay order in the wrongful death case filed by the family of Robert Wone, a 32-year-old lawyer was killed in a Dupont Circle townhouse in 2006.

Proceedings in the $20-million civil suit had been stayed while Joseph Price, Dylan Ward and Victor Zaborsky faced a criminal trial on charges of conspiracy, obstruction of justice and tampering with evidence.

The three housemates were acquitted on all criminal charges last week. Wone was stabbed three times in the chest while spending the night at their home.

Wone’s widow, Katherine Wone, filed the wrongful death suit against the three men in November 2008. A status hearing is scheduled for Sept. 10.