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Jury Orders Man to Pay $500K for Assaulting Officer Who Took His Life After Jan. 6 Capitol Riot


A federal jury awarded $500,000 to the widow and estate of Metropolitan Police Officer Jeffrey Smith, who took his own life nine days after defending the U.S. Capitol during the January 6, 2021, riots. The jury found 69-year-old chiropractor David Walls-Kaufman liable for assaulting Smith during the attack, awarding him $380,000 in punitive damages and $60,000 in compensatory damages for Smith’s pain and suffering. The judge dismissed Erin Smith’s wrongful death claim, stating no reasonable juror could connect Walls-Kaufman’s actions to the traumatic brain injury leading to Smith’s death.

Despite the jury’s decision, Walls-Kaufman asserted that he never struck Smith, calling the trial’s outcome “absolutely ridiculous” and expressing disbelief over the ruling. Judge Ana Reyes encouraged both parties to consider a settlement to avoid an appeal, emphasizing the benefits of closure.

Officer Smith, who had no prior mental health issues, shot himself after returning to work post-riot. His family argued that Walls-Kaufman struck Smith with a baton, contributing to the psychological trauma leading to his suicide. Walls-Kaufman claimed any injuries Smith sustained occurred later from another rioter.

In 2022, the D.C. Police and Firefighters’ Retirement and Relief Board found Smith’s injury was sustained in the line of duty and caused his death. Walls-Kaufman, who pleaded guilty to a riot-related misdemeanor and served a 60-day prison sentence, was pardoned by President Trump shortly after. The January 6 attack injured over 100 law enforcement officers and had lasting consequences, with other officers also experiencing mental health issues following the incident.

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