Jury Orders Jan. 6 Rioter to Pay Half a Million Dollars in Damages for Assault Leading to Officer’s Suicide
A federal jury has mandated that a participant in the January 6 Capitol riot pay $500,000 in damages after being found liable for assaulting a police officer whose subsequent death by suicide occurred nine days later. The verdict includes $380,000 in punitive damages and $60,000 in compensatory damages awarded to Erin Smith, the widow of Officer Jeffrey Smith of the D.C. Metropolitan Police. Additionally, Walls-Kaufman was ordered to pay another $60,000 to the officer’s estate for pain and suffering. These figures were initially reported by the Associated Press and later confirmed by Erin Smith’s legal representative, David P. Weber, to The Washington Post.
Background of the Case and Legal Proceedings
David Walls-Kaufman, a 69-year-old chiropractor based on Capitol Hill, was involved in the riot and was sentenced in 2023 to two months in jail for a misdemeanor related to his participation. The court at that time clarified that Walls-Kaufman’s sentence did not include the death of Jeffrey Smith, as his guilty plea was only for unlawfully protesting inside the Capitol building. Despite his misdemeanor conviction, the civil suit brought by Erin Smith sought accountability for the assault and its tragic aftermath.
While Walls-Kaufman was not criminally charged with assault-prosecutors cited insufficient evidence to meet the criminal standard-the lower burden of proof in civil cases allowed the jury to find him liable. The distinction underscores how civil and criminal proceedings operate under different evidentiary thresholds.
The Impact of the Verdict and Reactions
Erin Smith’s legal team expressed a sense of justice served, with Weber stating, “The verdict has provided Widow Erin Smith a measure of justice that she has long sought for her husband.” The legal team is now contemplating an appeal concerning aspects of the case that the jury did not consider.
Walls-Kaufman, on the other hand, dismissed the verdict as “absolutely ridiculous,” asserting, “No crime happened. I never struck the officer. I never intended to strike the officer,” according to the Associated Press. His attorney, Hughie Hunt, described the outcome as “shocking,” though he has yet to comment further.
Legal Developments and Limitations
Recently, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes dismissed part of Erin Smith’s wrongful death claim, stating she did not believe that Walls-Kaufman’s actions could have caused the traumatic brain injury that contributed to Smith’s death. Walls-Kaufman attributed any injuries sustained by Officer Smith to a separate incident during the riot, where another participant threw a pole that struck the officer’s head. Nonetheless, the jury found Walls-Kaufman liable for assault and battery, with evidence showing him violently swinging Officer Smith’s baton and hitting him in the head.
The Role of Evidence and Broader Context
Footage from January 6, 2021, depicted Walls-Kaufman grabbing and forcefully swinging Officer Smith’s baton, which was vulnerable due to his visor being in the upright position. The lawsuit argued that Smith suffered from post-concussive syndrome, which contributed to his depression and eventual suicide. Walls-Kaufman’s background includes service as a congressional staffer, and he was among the first rioters to breach the Capitol’s Rotunda doors despite being sprayed with chemical irritants. He also engaged physically with police officers attempting to disperse the crowd after a rioter was shot outside the Speaker’s Lobby, leading to his forcible removal from the building.
The Tragic Aftermath and Officer Jeffrey Smith’s Legacy
Jeffrey Smith was one of four officers who died by suicide in the months following the Capitol attack, with another officer dying of a stroke shortly after. During Walls-Kaufman’s sentencing in 2023, Erin Smith addressed the court, stating, “Because of the choices he made on January 6th, I lost my husband,” emphasizing the profound personal toll. The D.C. Police and Firefighters Retirement and Relief Board granted Erin Smith a full pension, recognizing that her husband’s injury on January 6 was the “sole and direct cause of his death.”
Continuing Legal and Social Implications
This case highlights the ongoing legal repercussions for those involved in the Capitol riot and underscores the devastating personal consequences for law enforcement officers and their families. As the civil proceedings continue, the broader societal debate about accountability and justice in the aftermath of January 6 remains highly relevant, with current statistics indicating increased mental health challenges among officers and a growing recognition of the long-term impacts of such traumatic events.
