US EditionJury orders man to pay $500K for assaulting police officer who killed himself after Capitol riot
- On Monday, a federal jury required David Walls-Kaufman to pay $500,000 in damages to the widow and estate of Metropolitan Police Officer Jeffrey Smith, whom he physically confronted during the January 6 Capitol attack.
- The assault occurred inside the Capitol on January 6, 2021, when Walls-Kaufman struck Smith with his own police baton, causing injuries that led to Smith's suicide nine days later.
- Smith was 35 years old, had no prior mental illness, and the injury caused psychological and physical trauma according to Smith's wife, who filed a wrongful death suit.
- The jury awarded $380K in punitive damages and $60K in compensatory damages to Erin Smith, along with an extra $60K to cover Jeffrey Smith’s pain and suffering.
- Although President Trump’s pardon prevents criminal charges against Walls-Kaufman, a civil court ruling holds him financially responsible for the damages resulting from his actions during the Capitol attack.
54 Articles
54 Articles
Widow of Jan. 6 Officer Scores Partial Victory But Falls Short in Court
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Erin Smith, widow of Metropolitan Police Officer Jeffrey Smith, has gained a partial victory in her civil suit against David Walls‑Kaufman, a chiropractor accused of assaulting her husband during the January 6 riot. A jury this week found Walls‑Kaufman liable for assaulting Officer Smith inside the Capitol, validating part of Erin’s claims. But in a setback, the judge dismissed her wrongful-death claim, ruling there’s no reaso…
$500K awarded to officer’s widow in Jan. 6 Capitol riot case
A federal jury ordered 69-year-old David Walls-Kaufman, a chiropractor and former congressional staffer, to pay $500,000 in damages for assaulting Metropolitan Police Officer Jeffrey Smith during the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. The money will go to Erin Smith, the officer’s widow, and to Smith’s estate. On Friday, June 20, the jury awarded Smith $380,000 in punitive damages, $60,000 in compensatory damages, and an additional $60,000 for pain a…
Capitol Rioter Ordered to Pay $440K to Officer's Widow
A federal jury on Monday awarded $500,000 to the widow and estate of a police officer who killed himself nine days after he helped defend the US Capitol from a mob of rioters, including a man who scuffled with the officer during the attack. The eight-member jury ordered that...
Jury orders man to pay US$500K for assaulting police officer who killed himself after U.S. Capitol riot
A federal jury on Monday awarded $500,000 to the widow and estate of a police officer who killed himself nine days after he helped defend the U.S. Capitol from a mob of rioters, including a man who scuffled with the officer during the attack.
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