CHICAGO – A public quarrel between one former and one current attorney for Drew Peterson over who is to blame for the suburban Chicago police officer's murder conviction has escalated again – this time in the form of a defamation lawsuit.

Joel Brodsky, Peterson's lead trial attorney who has since stepped down from the legal team, filed the 31-page suit this week that hurls bitter denunciations wrapped in legalese at Steve Greenberg, a co-counsel at the trial who is still representing Peterson.

The burgeoning feud comes before a Will County judge is to rule Feb. 19 on a defense motion for a new trial based on allegations of Brodsky's inadequate representation. If the judge rejects the motion, Peterson immediately would be sentenced on his September conviction for killing his third wife, Kathleen Savio. Peterson also is suspected in the 2007 disappearance of his fourth wide, Stacy Peterson, though he has not been charged.