PARIS — A judge has ordered an Albany Township man to pay $1.2 million to a woman he assaulted during a home invasion four years ago. 

The decision closes a civil suit brought against defendant Benjamin Howard, who was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated assault charges in December 2011. 

In a ruling on a civil case entered Monday, Oxford County Superior Court Active-Retired Justice Robert Clifford ordered Howard to pay punitive and compensatory damages to plaintiff Katrine Burgi, 32, for medical bills, pain and suffering, scarring and emotional distress after she was severely beaten during a fight in her home following a party celebrating Howard’s engagement. 

In May 2011, Howard, 39, was at Burgi’s home in East Andover for a cookout celebrating his upcoming marriage to Melissa Blodgett Howard, now his wife. 

Howard, who was living in Albany Township at the time, got into his truck and left the house with his girlfriend. Not far from the home, they took a wrong turn and became stuck, which he blamed on his girlfriend. He became angry and attacked her.

She fled in the dead of night, running back to the home and awakening Burgi, who was asleep in her bedroom.

Howard followed, and when Burgi attempted to protect the woman, Howard dragged Burgi into a hallway, struck her several times and shoved her face-first into a full-length mirror, which shattered, cutting her face. 

Another man living in the house attempted to break up the fight and was assaulted; Burgi came to his aid. Howard fled on foot, but was soon picked up by police. 

Burgi was taken to Rumford Hospital and then to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston to undergo emergency plastic surgery to close a 6-inch gash from her left eye to her jaw line. She also suffered lacerations below her left eye and on her temple and bruising on her face, arms, back and elbow. 

As a result of the incident, Burgi told the court she is unable to sleep at night without background music and constantly locks her doors. 

“Burgi showed remarkable courage and character during this vicious assault,” Clifford said. “Despite the frantic screaming of Melissa and her shouting that Howard was ‘going to kill me,’ Burgi came to Melissa’s aid by confronting Howard, who was out of control, and as a result, was assaulted and seriously injured.” 

Attorneys Robert Hayes and James Martemucci filed the initial complaint in April 2014. Throughout the case, Howard represented himself. 

Clifford said Howard has never accepted responsibility for the “malicious” event. He did not cross-examine witnesses, object to the admission of evidence or make any opening or closing statements.

In several motions hand-written in the Maine Correctional Facility to the court, Howard admitted to the assault but flatly denied Burgi was cut as a result. He claimed Burgi took a shard of glass and cut herself after the fact, knowing police would believe her, and that it would result in a stiffer jail sentence. 

It was not apparent whether Howard will be able to comply with the ruling. He has few assets since being released from prison, Clifford said. 

ccrosby@sunjournal.com 

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