NASHVILLE (Tenn.) - A judge ruled Thursday that attorneys who brought a lawsuit against the Waffle House in Tennessee following a 2018 shooting will have access to some files that were sealed in the criminal case against him.

The request was granted by federal attorneys suing in Davidson County Criminal Court Judge Mark Fishburn. Travis Reinking is facing four counts of first degree murder.

Philip N. Elbert is representing Sharita Henderson in a lawsuit. He requested access to court docket and discovery files that would normally be made public in similar cases. This includes police files and statements from Reinking. Elbert also asked permission to speak with witnesses.

Fishburn said that he would allow civil attorneys more access, but that he still has to determine the details.

Although the judge didn't give an exact date, he indicated that the trial would begin sometime in the early part of next year. This will take place before the May trial date.

Reinking is charged with four counts of first degree murder. In February 2019, Reinking pleaded not guilty. He didn't appear at court Thursday.

The police claimed that he was naked and only had a green jacket on the day he started shooting at the Nashville restaurant. A patron then took the rifle from him. Reinking was being treated with schizophrenia and the case was placed on hold for several months. He was later cleared by a judge and indicted on 17 counts in 2019.

Glenn Funk, Nashville District Attorney, has stated in court filings that it will seek life imprisonment without parole.

Jeffrey Reinking, Reinking's father, also faces lawsuits for the shooting. He pleaded not guilty in Illinois to criminal charges regarding illegally giving his son the AR-15-style rifle that was used in the shooting.