Jury Awards $500K in Capitol Riot Assault \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ A jury awarded $500,000 to the widow and estate of Officer Jeffrey Smith, who died by suicide after defending the Capitol on Jan. 6. Defendant David Walls-Kaufman was found liable for assault during the riot. Though a wrongful-death claim was dismissed, compensatory and punitive damages were granted.
Quick Looks
- $500K total damages awarded to Erin Smith and her late husband’s estate.
- David Walls-Kaufman found liable for assaulting Officer Jeffrey Smith during Jan. 6 riot.
- Wrongful-death claim dismissed by U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes.
- Body camera footage used as key evidence in civil trial.
- Smith died by suicide nine days after riot participation.
- Police board ruled death in line of duty in 2022.
- Walls-Kaufman served 60 days, later pardoned by President Trump.
- Judge urges settlement to avoid appeal and closure.
Deep Look
In a rare and emotionally charged civil verdict linked to the aftermath of the January 6th Capitol riot, a federal jury on Monday awarded $500,000 in damages to the widow and estate of Metropolitan Police Officer Jeffrey Smith. Officer Smith died by suicide just over a week after participating in the defense of the U.S. Capitol, and his wife, Erin Smith, argued that a violent encounter with one of the rioters directly contributed to the mental and physical trauma that led to his death.
The case centered on David Walls-Kaufman, a 69-year-old chiropractor from Washington, D.C., who was accused of assaulting Officer Smith during the chaotic breach of the Capitol. The jury found him liable for the assault and awarded $380,000 in punitive damages and $60,000 in compensatory damages to Erin Smith. An additional $60,000 was granted to Officer Smith’s estate for pain and suffering.
A Tragic Spiral After the Riot
Officer Jeffrey Smith, a nine-year veteran of the Metropolitan Police Department, was dispatched to help protect the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Body camera footage shows that during the attack, Smith had a physical encounter with Walls-Kaufman. According to Erin Smith’s legal team, her husband was struck in the head with his own baton during the scuffle, causing a concussion. In the following days, she claimed, Officer Smith’s behavior drastically changed — he became disoriented, depressed, and withdrawn.
Nine days later, while driving to work, Smith used his service weapon to take his own life.
Smith had no known history of mental illness or psychological instability, according to his family. The case became one of several involving law enforcement officers who died by suicide in the days and weeks following the Capitol riot, highlighting the psychological toll the attack took on those who defended the seat of American democracy from political violence.
In 2022, the District of Columbia Police and Firefighters’ Retirement and Relief Board ruled that Smith had suffered a line-of-duty injury on January 6 that was the “sole and direct cause” of his suicide. This ruling gave Erin Smith the grounds to pursue legal remedies for wrongful death and damages.
Civil Trial and Jury Decision
While U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes ultimately dismissed the wrongful-death claim before the jury began deliberating — concluding that no reasonable juror could find Walls-Kaufman’s actions alone caused a traumatic brain injury leading to Smith’s death — the case proceeded on the question of assault and damages for physical and emotional trauma.
The jury, comprised of eight members, sided with Erin Smith after reviewing key evidence, including the officer’s body-worn camera footage and witness testimony. The footage allegedly shows the moment when Walls-Kaufman came into contact with Smith. Though the physical confrontation lasted only a few seconds, jurors were convinced that the event inflicted real harm.
Judge Reyes acknowledged the brief nature of the encounter but responded sharply to the defense’s assertion that such a short interaction could not cause lasting damage: “A lot of things can happen in three seconds,” she told Walls-Kaufman’s attorney, Hughie Hunt.
Reactions from Both Sides
After the verdict, Erin Smith’s legal team said the decision brought a sense of justice. “Erin is grateful to receive some measure of justice,” said attorney David P. Weber, who emphasized that the ruling helped recognize the suffering Jeffrey Smith endured.
Walls-Kaufman, for his part, expressed disbelief and outrage. “No crime happened. I never struck the officer,” he said outside court. “I’m just stunned.” His defense argued that Smith’s injuries may have come from a different rioter who, later in the day, threw a metal pole at him — not from Walls-Kaufman.
Nonetheless, the jury placed responsibility squarely on Walls-Kaufman for assaulting Officer Smith and causing harm that would resonate well beyond January 6.
Political and Legal Background
Walls-Kaufman was arrested and later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor related to his involvement in the Capitol riot. He served a 60-day jail sentence before receiving a full pardon from former President Donald Trump. The pardon was part of a sweeping clemency order that included nearly 1,600 individuals linked to the Capitol breach, signed on Trump’s first day back in office following the 2024 election.
This backdrop made the civil case even more high-profile, as Walls-Kaufman became a symbol of the enduring legal and ethical questions surrounding accountability for the Capitol attack. While the pardon absolved him of criminal consequences, it had no effect on civil liability — a key reason why the lawsuit moved forward.
Officer Jeffrey Smith: A Larger Symbol
Officer Smith’s suicide is one of several such cases tied to the trauma of the Capitol riot. Capitol Police Officer Howard Liebengood also died by suicide after responding to the attack. Officer Brian Sicknick, another responder, collapsed and died the day after the riot. Though his death was ruled as due to natural causes, his passing remains central to discussions about the toll on law enforcement.
Smith’s death sparked national attention, and his family’s legal battle played a role in pushing Congress and state officials to recognize the psychological dangers first responders face in the wake of traumatic events. Erin Smith has since become a vocal advocate for mental health resources for law enforcement and the inclusion of suicide as a line-of-duty death when triggered by operational trauma.
Ongoing Fallout and Resolution
Judge Reyes encouraged both sides to explore a settlement following the verdict, urging them to seek closure. “You guys settle, you can move on with your lives,” she told the parties, noting that the appeal process could be lengthy and emotionally taxing.
Walls-Kaufman’s legal team has not yet confirmed whether they plan to appeal the decision, though they did describe the jury’s award as “shocking.”
Meanwhile, Erin Smith has stated that while the outcome cannot bring her husband back, it does affirm that his suffering was real and that those responsible must be held accountable — no matter how brief or contested the violent encounter was.
The case also reignites debate over how the U.S. justice system should handle the psychological impacts of political violence on law enforcement, and what standard of evidence is necessary to link traumatic events to later mental health crises, including suicide.
Jury Awards $500K Jury Awards $500K Jury Awards $500K
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