A federal jury in Washington, D.C., today awarded $500,000 to Erin Smith, widow of Metropolitan Police Officer Jeffrey Smith, after finding chiropractor David Walls-Kaufman liable for assaulting the officer during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. The verdict brings partial closure to a case in which jurors concluded that Walls-Kaufman’s attack, carried out with what appeared to be a cane or metal pole, caused a brain injury that led to severe depression and ultimately Officer Smith’s suicide nine days later.
Officer Smith’s Ordeal on January 6
Officer Jeffrey Smith, a 12-year veteran of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, responded to the Capitol breach on January 6 alongside other officers in full riot gear. In the chaos, surveillance footage shows Smith standing with his face shield raised when Walls-Kaufman struck him on the head with an object next to the west front steps. The blow knocked Smith to the ground, leaving him unconscious. Medical experts later linked his head injury to the onset of severe depression and suicidal thoughts, marking a tragic outcome in what was officially ruled a line-of-duty death by Washington, D.C., authorities in March 2022.
Building the Case
Smith’s widow, Erin, pursued justice by filing two civil actions: a wrongful death suit and an assault claim against Walls-Kaufman. The wrongful death claim was dismissed by U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes before the trial, who ruled that no reasonable juror could find that the assault directly caused Officer Smith’s suicide. That decision narrowed the trial to the question of assault liability. Erin Smith’s legal team, bolstered by evidence gathered by private investigators using publicly available video and facial recognition, contended that Walls-Kaufman deliberately targeted the office.
Body Camera Evidence
Key to the jury’s decision was body camera footage captured by Officer Smith and his colleagues. The video shows rioters taunting Smith with verbal insults before surrounding him. In one clip, Walls-Kaufman lifts his arm and brings down a baton or pole with full force. Additional footage from other officers’ cameras confirmed multiple confrontations that day, undermining Walls-Kaufman’s claim that he never struck Smith and that he suffered “sensory overload” amid the crowd.
Verdict and Damages
After less than three hours of deliberation, the six-person jury found Walls-Kaufman liable for assault. They awarded Erin Smith $380,000 in punitive damages to punish the defendant’s conduct, $60,000 in compensatory damages for her loss, and $60,000 for her husband’s pain and suffering, totaling $500,000. In court, Erin Smith accepted the verdict as “a necessary measure of accountability,” while her attorney, David P. Weber, noted that it represented “a step toward justice” for a family left shattered by violence and loss.
Wider Implications
Legal experts say the verdict may influence future civil actions by officers injured during the riot, underscoring that individuals who attacked law enforcement can face both criminal and civil consequences. The case also highlights the growing role of digital evidence and private investigator groups in building claims against January 6 participants. Moreover, the official recognition of Officer Smith’s death as a line-of-duty casualty may shape benefits and honors for families of other officers who suffered trauma that led to their deaths after that day.
Personal Analysis
In my view, this case underlines how the January 6 attacks continue to reverberate through American institutions. Erin Smith’s pursuit of civil justice shows both the strengths and limits of the legal system: while a jury can hold an individual accountable for an assault, procedural hurdles can block claims directly linking violence to suicide. This verdict sends a message that society will seek redress for harm done to those who protect our democracy, yet it also reveals the emotional toll borne by families navigating complex legal terrain.
Sources: CTV News
