In a stunning development, a federal jury has ordered a man to pay $500,000 to the widow of a police officer who killed himself after the January 6 Capitol riot.
The massive payout comes even as 69-year-old David Walls-Kaufman firmly denies any wrongdoing in what many view as another politically-motivated judgment.
Initially, the judge dismissed claims that the protester caused the officer’s death.
However, the jury still directed Walls-Kaufman to pay $380,000 in punitive damages and $60,000 in compensatory damages to Erin Smith, widow of Metropolitan Police Officer Jeffrey Smith.
An additional $60,000 was awarded to Smith’s estate for pain and suffering. The officer died by suicide nine days after the Capitol protest.
Despite this substantial financial judgment, the presiding judge dismissed the most serious claim against Walls-Kaufman.
The wrongful death accusation was thrown out, with the judge explicitly stating that no reasonable juror could link Walls-Kaufman’s actions to Smith’s suicide.
The judge further clarified that Walls-Kaufman’s actions could not have caused a traumatic brain injury leading to Smith’s death.
When confronted with the verdict, Walls-Kaufman labeled the outcome “absolutely ridiculous.”
Walls-Kaufman had already served a 60-day prison sentence for a Capitol riot-related misdemeanor before being pardoned.
Now, despite the dismissal of the most serious claim against him, he faces a significant financial burden.
Apparently recognizing the potential problems with the verdict, the judge encouraged both parties to consider a settlement to avoid an appeal.
Smith’s family claimed he had no previous mental health issues before the January 6 events, and the police department had cleared him to return to duty before his suicide.
The District of Columbia Police and Firefighters’ Retirement and Relief Board later ruled Smith’s injury was the direct cause of his death, contradicting the federal judge’s assessment in this case.
“Erin is grateful to receive some measure of justice,” said one of her attorneys, David P. Weber.
This case is part of the broader narrative surrounding January 6, which has seen over 1,000 Americans charged in connection with the protest.
The media continues to report that over 100 law enforcement officers were injured during the Capitol demonstration.
For instance, Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick was initially reported to have died from injuries sustained during the protest. He was later determined to have died of natural causes.
