Judge tosses wrongful death claim brought by widow of Jan 6 cop who died by suicide days later, jury finds rioter liable
Source: Law & Crime
Jun 22nd, 2025, 4:49 pm
The widow of a Jan. 6 police officer who died by suicide — after suffering from a "brain injury" and "severe depression" she says was the result of defending the Capitol — was handed a bittersweet outcome in federal court on Friday as a demonstrator was found liable for the assault, but not her husband's death.
U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes told Emily Smith, widow of Metropolitan Police Officer Jeffrey Smith, that she did not believe jurors were capable of deciding whether David Walls-Kaufman's actions had caused Jeffrey's suicide, according to The Associated Press, which covered Smith's civil trial last week in Washington, D.C.
Reyes reportedly said it would be "exceedingly rational" for both sides "to get this behind you" and consider a settlement to avoid wasting time and money on an appeal.
An eight-member jury went on to find Walls-Kaufman liable for assaulting Jeffrey Smith, opening the door for Emily to possibly receive monetary damages. Additional testimony and closing arguments are slated to take place this week as Reyes chose to split the trial up into two parts, one on Smith's claims and the other on damages, the AP reports.
Read more: https://lawandcrime.com/lawsuit/judge-tosses-wrongful-death-claim-brought-by-widow-of-jan-6-cop-who-died-by-suicide-days-later-jury-finds-rioter-liable-for-assault/
Full headline: Judge tosses wrongful death claim brought by widow of Jan. 6 cop who died by suicide days later, jury finds rioter liable for assault
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