For former flight attendant Sandra Firth, a live-in relationship with a wealthy real-estate developer turned into what she has characterized as a nightmare of abuse that led to a drawn-out legal battle.

One round of the legal battle ended recently when a jury awarded Firth $1 million in damages - apparently the first jury recognition in Idaho of the trauma battered women suffer.It does send a signal that not only is battered woman syndrome not acceptable in this society, but also verbal and sexual abuse isn't acceptable, Firth's attorney, Elanore Baxendale, said.

But the real-estate developer, Carl Curtis, 55, has asked for a new trial, saying he never forced anything upon her.

Firth, 45, claimed Curtis subjected her to verbal, physical and sexual abuse and that she now suffers from a post-traumatic syndrome called battered woman syndrome.

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After a one-week trial ending May 18, the jury sided with Firth and awarded her $50,000 for battery, $225,000 for intentional infliction of emotional distress, and $750,000 in punitive damages.

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