A federal jury awarded $500,000 to Erin Smith, the widow of police officer Jeffrey Smith, who died by suicide nine days after confronting a mob at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. The jury imposed $380,000 in punitive damages against chiropractor David Walls-Kaufman, who was found liable for assaulting Officer Smith during the Capitol riot. A wrongful-death claim was dismissed by Judge Ana Reyes, emphasizing no evidence linked Walls-Kaufman's actions to the officer's death. Smith's estate also received $60,000 for pain and suffering, illustrating ongoing trauma from the riot incident.
After the jury left the courtroom, Reyes encouraged the parties to confer and discuss a possible settlement to avoid the time and expense of an appeal.
Walls-Kaufman said the outcome of the trial is absolutely ridiculous. No crime happened. I never struck the officer. I never intended to strike the officer.
Erin is grateful to receive some measure of justice, said one of her attorneys, David P Weber.
The eight-member jury ordered the man, 69-year-old chiropractor David Walls-Kaufman, to pay $380,000 in punitive damages and $60,000 in compensatory damages.
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