WISCASSET, Maine — The survivor of a deadly knife attack in Waldoboro in April 2009 has been awarded a more than $3.7 million judgment in Lincoln County Superior Court.

was nearly decapitated when Corina A. Durkee and Earl D. Bieler III attacked her and cut her throat. Neild’s companion, Rachel Grindal, was killed in the attack.

“Tracey survived a vicious attack that left her permanently disabled and her friend dead,” said Sumner Lipman, who represented Nield in the case. “She will never escape the brutality of the night she was attacked, but today the people responsible have been held accountable for the pain and suffering they inflicted.”

Neild was awarded $2 million in general damages, $384,512 for medical expenses to date and $274,560 compensation for lost income. She was also awarded $1 million in punitive damages because her attackers acted with malice. The total award was $3,659,072.

“Neild is … entitled to general damages for past and future pain, suffering and loss of enjoyment of life,” reads the judgment, according to the press release. “Neild’s injuries were grievous. She has undergone many surgical procedures, and more are anticipated. She can now only speak in a whisper. The deep psychological scars of the terrible attack are documented in the evidence.”

Lipman said the nothing can repair the damage done from the attack, “but we have worked aggressively to make sure that the guilty parties pay for their actions.”

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