The widow of a police officer who committed suicide after defending the Capitol on Jan. 6 was awarded $500,000 by a jury on Friday.
An eight member federal jury ordered David Walls-Kaufman, 69, to pay $380,000 in punitive damages and $60,000 in compensatory damages to Erin Smith for assaulting her husband, Metropolitan Police Officer Jeffrey Smith, inside the Capitol, according to the Associated Press.
The jury also awarded an additional $60,000 to compensate the officer’s estate for his pain and suffering.
Smith shot and killed himself with his service weapon while driving to work for the first time, nine days after the Capitol attack.
His wife said Smith had no history of mental health problems before he was struck in the head by Walls–Kaufman with his own police baton. The incident was reportedly captured on the officer’s bodycam.
Erin Smith said the blow to the head gave her husband a concussion and caused psychological and physical trauma that led to his suicide.
“Erin is grateful to receive some measure of justice,” one of her attorneys told the AP.
Walls-Kaufman called the verdict “ridiculous,” adding “no crime happened. I never struck the officer. I never intended to strike the officer. I’m just stunned.”
Walls-Kaufman, a chiropractor, served 60 days in prison after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor in January 2023 for his role in the Capitol attack. He was pardoned by Donald Trump in January after he returned to office.
More than 100 law-enforcement officers were injured during the riot. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick died a day after engaging with the rioters. At least four officers, including Smith, died by suicide after the attack.
