Kouri Richins Ordered to Pay $55,120,516 in Eric Richins Wrongful Death Case

A Utah judge has ordered Kouri Richins to pay $55,120,516 to the estate of her late husband, Eric Richins, resolving the wrongful-death claim brought by his sister and estate representative, Katie Richins-Benson.

The order was signed by Third District Court Judge Richard Mrazik in Summit County, Utah, on October 5, 2026, according to reports of the ruling. It awards $10,780,129 in economic damages, $3,000,000 in non-economic damages and $41,340,387 in punitive damages. The non-economic portion includes $1,000,000 for each of Eric Richins’ three minor children.

The award does not end the whole civil lawsuit. It resolves the wrongful-death claim, claim No. 16 in a 21-claim case, and other claims remain pending or stayed. It is also not a settlement: there is no claim form and no public fund for anyone to join.

Kouri Richins Wrongful Death Judgment: Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Plaintiff	Katie Richins-Benson, personal representative of the Estate of Eric Richins and trustee of The Eric Richins Living Trust
Defendants	Kouri Richins and K Richins Realty, LLC
Court	Third Judicial District Court, Summit County, Utah
Judge	Richard Mrazik
Civil case filed	June 2023
Claim resolved	Wrongful death (claim No. 16 of 21)
Total amount ordered	$55,120,516
Economic damages	$10,780,129 (includes $13,781 in funeral expenses)
Non-economic damages	3,000,000(1,000,000 for each of three minor children)
Punitive damages	$41,340,387
Date of order	October 5, 2026
Status	Wrongful-death claim resolved; other civil claims pending or stayed
Public claim form or settlement fund	None

What Happened in the Katie Richins-Benson Lawsuit Against Kouri Richins?

Katie Richins-Benson filed the civil lawsuit in June 2023 as personal representative of Eric Richins’ estate and trustee of his living trust. The complaint named Kouri Richins and K Richins Realty, LLC and, according to news coverage at the time, sought more than $13 million.

Besides the wrongful-death claim, the complaint raised claims over property and finances, including allegations about two retirement accounts totaling $55,000 and about a children’s book that the estate says used Eric Richins’ name and likeness without consent. These are allegations in the pleadings. The October 5 order, as reported, resolves only the wrongful-death claim.

When the civil suit was filed, Kouri Richins had not been convicted of anything. The civil case moved separately from the criminal case.

Kouri Richins’ Criminal Conviction in the Eric Richins Murder Case

Eric Richins died on March 4, 2022, at age 39, from a fentanyl overdose. In March 2026, a Summit County jury convicted Kouri Richins of aggravated murder, along with attempted aggravated murder, insurance fraud and forgery.

On May 13, 2026, Judge Mrazik sentenced her to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Her attorneys filed a notice of appeal on May 26, 2026. A request for a new trial was denied in July 2026. She has maintained her innocence.

The criminal appeal is separate from the civil judgment. For background on how the two kinds of cases differ, see What Is a Wrongful Death Lawsuit? Everything Families Need to Know.

How the Court Reached $55,120,516 for Eric Richins’ Estate

According to reporting on the order, Katie Richins-Benson asked the court to rule on the wrongful-death claim based on facts set out in her motion. Kouri Richins did not dispute those statements, so Judge Mrazik treated them as established. This was a ruling by the judge, not a jury verdict on civil damages.

$10,780,129 in Economic Damages Against Kouri Richins

Economic damages cover financial losses from Eric Richins’ death, including funeral expenses of $13,781, lost earnings and benefits, and household contributions.

$3,000,000 in Non-Economic Damages for Eric Richins’ Children

The court awarded $3,000,000 for the loss of the children’s father, including companionship, protection, guidance and affection. That is $1,000,000 for each of the three minor children. For more on what families can recover, see Wrongful Death Lawyer, What Families Can Sue For.

$41,340,387 in Punitive Damages Against Kouri Richins

Punitive damages are meant to punish especially serious conduct and deter it, not to compensate for a loss. The punitive figure equals three times the combined economic and non-economic damages: 3 × ($10,780,129 + $3,000,000) = $41,340,387.

Category	Amount
Economic damages	$10,780,129
Non-economic damages	$3,000,000
Punitive damages	$41,340,387
Total	$55,120,516

Who Receives the Kouri Richins Judgment?

The judgment is payable to Katie Richins-Benson in her capacity as representative of Eric Richins’ estate and trustee of his trust. Eric Richins’ three children are identified as the estate’s only heirs.

That does not mean each child receives one-third of $55,120,516. The order specifically provides $1,000,000 per child within the $3,000,000 non-economic award, and the remainder runs through the estate and trust.

Will the Eric Richins Estate Collect the Full $55,120,516 From Kouri Richins?

Not necessarily. A judgment sets the amount owed. Collecting it is a separate step.

Kouri Richins is serving life without parole. Court reporting has said the judge previously found she could not afford her own defense lawyers, and Summit County has paid for her public defenders and her appeal. In a separate criminal proceeding on August 28, 2026, she was ordered to repay about 1.37millioninlifeinsuranceproceeds(1,017,018.49 to Auto Owners Insurance and $352,562.61 to TruStage), and reporting said it was unclear whether she has the resources to pay.

So the size of the judgment should not be read as proof that the estate will receive that amount.

Is the Kouri Richins $55 Million Award a Settlement or Class Action?

No. It is a court-ordered judgment in an individual civil lawsuit brought by the representative of Eric Richins’ estate and trust. It is not a class action and not a negotiated settlement. There is no claim form, settlement website or compensation program for the public. If you are looking for how real settlement claims work, see How To Claim A Lawsuit Settlement?

Has the Kouri Richins Civil Lawsuit Ended?

No. The October 5 order resolves claim No. 16 in a lawsuit with 21 claims. Other claims, including those involving K Richins Realty, LLC and property and retirement-account allegations, remain pending or stayed. The estate can pursue collection under Utah law, and Kouri Richins may have procedural rights to challenge the civil ruling.

Kouri Richins Criminal Case vs. Wrongful Death Case

	Criminal case	Civil wrongful-death case
Brought by	State of Utah (Summit County prosecutors)	Estate of Eric Richins
Purpose	Criminal punishment	Money damages for losses caused by a death
Outcome	Aggravated murder conviction; life without parole	$55,120,516 judgment
Appeal status	Notice of appeal filed May 26, 2026	Separate; other civil claims still pending or stayed

Frequently Asked Questions About the Kouri Richins $55,120,516 Judgment

How much was Kouri Richins ordered to pay in the Eric Richins wrongful death case?

$55,120,516: $10,780,129 in economic damages, $3,000,000 in non-economic damages and $41,340,387 in punitive damages.

Who filed the wrongful death lawsuit against Kouri Richins?

Katie Richins-Benson, Eric Richins’ sister, as personal representative of his estate and trustee of The Eric Richins Living Trust. The defendants are Kouri Richins and K Richins Realty, LLC.

Which judge ordered Kouri Richins to pay $55,120,516?

Third District Court Judge Richard Mrazik in Summit County, Utah, in an order dated October 5, 2026.

Did a jury award the $55,120,516 to Eric Richins’ estate?

No. The judge ruled on the wrongful-death claim after the facts in the motion went undisputed.

How much did the court award Eric Richins’ three children?

$1,000,000 each, or $3,000,000 total, as part of the non-economic damages.

Can the public file a claim for money from the Kouri Richins judgment?

No. There is no claim form or public fund. The award belongs to Eric Richins’ estate and trust.

Has the entire Kouri Richins civil lawsuit ended?

No. Only claim No. 16, the wrongful-death claim, was resolved. The other claims in the 21-claim case remain pending or stayed.

Is Kouri Richins appealing her conviction?

Yes. Her attorneys filed a notice of appeal on May 26, 2026. The appeal is separate from the civil judgment.

Will Eric Richins’ estate collect all $55,120,516 from Kouri Richins?

Not necessarily. Collection depends on what assets are available and on the enforcement process, and the public reporting does not show that the full amount has been collected.

Bottom Line on the Kouri Richins $55,120,516 Wrongful Death Judgment

A Utah judge has entered a $55,120,516 judgment against Kouri Richins in Eric Richins’ wrongful-death case: $10,780,129 in economic damages, $3,000,000 in non-economic damages (including $1,000,000 for each of his three children) and $41,340,387 in punitive damages.

The judgment is separate from her criminal conviction and appeal, it is not a settlement or class action, and it does not close every claim in the 21-claim lawsuit. Collecting the money is a separate question from winning the award.

Sources

• Reporting by KPCW, Deseret News and CBS News on the criminal case, sentencing, appeal, new-trial ruling and restitution order
• Reporting on the October 5, 2026 order in Katie Richins-Benson v. Kouri Richins and K Richins Realty, LLC, Third Judicial District Court, Summit County, Utah

This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. AllAboutLawyer.com is not a law firm. Court rulings and appeals can change, so check the court record or a licensed attorney for your situation.

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. All facts verified against published reporting on the court record from KPCW, Deseret News and CBS News, and the October 5, 2026 order details as reported, as of October 7, 2026. Last Updated: October 7, 2026.