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Judge Awards $5.9M To Officer On Permanent Disability After Shooting

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- An off-duty New Jersey county sheriff's officer who was shot and seriously wounded when he tried to intervene in a domestic dispute has won a $5.9 million civil judgment against the gunman.

A judge recently awarded the money to Joshua Hahn and his wife after Billy Heisler -- who was convicted last month on attempted murder and weapons charges -- failed to respond to the suit.

The 34-year-old Mercer County Sheriff's officer suffered two punctured lungs and a shattered vertebra when he tried to break up a fight between Heisler and his sister at a Hamilton Township pizzeria in July 2007. Hahn eventually had to retire on permanent disability.

Hahn was awarded $963,871 in lost wages; $1.5 million for pain and suffering and $2.5 million in punitive damages. Hahn's wife was awarded $1 million.

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(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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