A Bergen County jury recently awarded more than $33 million to the operators of a now-defunct legal funding business based on allegations that its in-house counsel defrauded the business with the help of a host of co-conspirators.

The sum, which includes $8 million in punitive damages, was awarded to The Law Funder LLC, with most of it payable by Matthew Sheldon, who previously was convicted in a federal criminal case for his conduct.