Toolsview all


Kelsey Smith-Briggs' mom won't get money from settlement

 
BY NOLAN CLAY | Published: February 10, 2010   

A federal judge Tuesday ruled Kelsey Smith-Briggs’ mother cannot share in a lawsuit settlement over her daughter’s death because of her own wrongdoing.

photo - Raye Dawn Smith, 27, was sentenced to 27 years in prison by Judge Paul Vassar in a courtroom in Bristow, Ok, Monday morning, September 10, 2007. By Jim Beckel
Raye Dawn Smith, 27, was sentenced to 27 years in prison by Judge Paul Vassar in a courtroom in Bristow, Ok, Monday morning, September 10, 2007. By Jim Beckel

Multimedia

Related content

Documents

Links

Raye Dawn Smith, 30, wanted half of the $345,097 left over from the settlement. She is in prison for enabling her daughter’s abuse.

U.S. District Judge Timothy DeGiusti gave all the money to Kelsey’s father, Lance Briggs.

"The evidence clearly established that Ms. Smith was aware Kelsey was being harmed, and at the very least, she culpably failed to protect Kelsey from abuse. Equity dictates that one ought not benefit from her own wrong,” the judge ruled.

Lance Briggs said Tuesday, "I think justice has prevailed.”

He said he will give some of the money to a foundation named after his daughter that supports child abuse awareness and other things.

Kelsey died from abuse Oct. 11, 2005, at her home near Meeker. She had suffered repeated injuries that year, including two broken legs and a broken collarbone. The case was one of the most highly publicized murder cases in Oklahoma for the next two years.

Smith testified in January she wanted half of the settlement to repay her family for her legal expenses. She said she would give anything left after that to an infant crisis center in Oklahoma City and a children’s hospital.

She is appealing her conviction.

Lance Briggs filed a wrongful-death lawsuit in 2006 against the state Department of Human Services and others.

Page 1 of 2

Toolsview all



Related Topics: Murder and Homicide, Crime, Criminal Sentencing and Punishment, Child Abuse, Crime and Law

NewsOK has disabled the comments for this article.
See our commenting and posting policy.

Ads by Yahoo!

53yr Old Woman, Looks 25
53yr Old Mom publishes 1 simple wrinkle trick that has angered doctors.
www.ConsumerLifestyleMag.com
53-Year-Old Mom Looks 27
Follow this 1 weird tip and remove 20 years of wrinkles in 21 days.
SmartConsumerMagazine.com

News Photo Galleriesview all