The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco said descendants of the Armenian Genocide victims can get payment from the companies selling life insurance to their relatives.

Under the court decision, California law labeling the killings as genocide does not contradict U.S. foreign policy.

The court reversed its last year’s decision when it struck down the law enabling descendants to file a lawsuit against companies selling insurance policies to Armenians. Last year the court decided that labeling events as genocide conflicts with U.S. foreign policy, the Washington Post reported.

Attorney Brian Kabateck representing Armenian heirs said that the decision was quite unexpected and is a great victory for the Armenian people.

Earlier, New York Life Insurance Co. and AXA, S.A. agreed to settle the cases for $37.5 million, whereas another case continued against two German insurance companies.