WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- A Deerfield Beach woman who was left partially paralyzed after a botched steroid injection has won a $36 million malpractice verdict.

A Palm Beach County jury on Thursday ordered former pain management doctor Andrew Weiss to pay 52-year-old Kathleen Ramey millions. Doctors said the steroids destroyed tissue in her spinal cord.

But Ramey's attorney says they don't expect to see the money soon. Weiss is serving a 12-year federal prison sentence. He pleaded guilty in 2006 to four counts of illegally distributing oxycodone. Plus, the verdict prohibits Ramey from suing Weiss' insurance company to demand payment.

Weiss and his attorney were not present at the trial.

Ramey sought treatment from Weiss in 2000 for injuries suffered in a car crash.

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Information from: South Florida Sun Sentinel, http://www.sun sentinel.com