Digital ET demolished when contested at law (9)

I believe the answer is:

litigated

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'contested at law' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are past participle verbs, I don't see how one could define the other.

'digital et demolished' is the wordplay.
'demolished' indicates an anagram.
'digital'+'et'='digitalet'
'digitalet' with letters rearranged gives 'LITIGATED'.

'when' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for litigated that I've seen before include "Took legal action" , "Went to court" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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