A federal jury has awarded best-selling crime novelist Patricia Cornwell $50.9 million in damages from a New York City wealth management firm, which the jury found cheated her and her wife out tens of millions.

The Boston Globe reported yesterday on the verdict, and interviewed Cornwell shortly after the jury's decision. The jury issued the verdict against her former financial advisor, Evan Snapper, and his company, Anchin, Block & Anchin LLP. Cornwell filed the lawsuit against both in 2009. Bloomberg News reported in 2011 that Snapper, a former Hillary Clinton backer, pleaded guilty to allowing Clinton's campaign to unwittingly submit false statements to the Federal Election Commission.

The Boston Globe  reported that a federal judge could triple the Cornwell's award if he or she finds Anchin, Block & Anchin violated consumer protection laws.

During the seven-week trial, The Boston Globe said, lawyers for Anchin, Block & Anchin and Snapper, a former firm principal, said Cornwell's losses were due to the economic downturn combined with her expensive taste. They also maintained she was a demanding client who relied on the firm for what amounted to concierge services, the newspaper said.

Cornwell's attorney argued that the firm moved her from conservative to aggressive investments without informing her and didn't document expenditures from her account, the newspaper said.

A lawyer for Anchin, Block & Anchin said the firm will consider appealing the verdict, The Boston Globe added.