In what appears to be a novel decision, a federal judge in Newark ruled that nine former Jersey City police officers who recently won a $2.17 million verdict in a promotions dispute are entitled to a molded verdict to offset tax consequences of their lump-sum award.

The plaintiffs are entitled to relief because they prevailed on claims under the Law Against Discrimination concerning numerous years’ worth of economic damages, U.S. District Judge Stanley Chesler said Monday in Montone v. Jersey City and Astriab v. Jersey City, two cases consolidated for trial.