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SALT LAKE CITY The family of human rights activist Esther Nakajjigo, who was decapitated in an accident in Arches National Park, has sued the National Park Service. Testimony ends in trial of Ugandan woman decapitated in Arches National "I'll respond as soon as I'm able," Jenkins said. $10.5 million awarded to family of Denver woman killed at Arches He no longer has a TV in his apartment because the sight of any blood is triggering, he said. Nelson, the governments attorney, has said an appropriate award would be $3.5million (2.9m). The lawsuit was filed about a year after Nakajjigo was killed in June 2020, when wind apparently caused the unsecured, metal gate on the parks main road to swing around and strike her and her husbands car, decapitating her. National Park Service faces $270M wrongful death claim - USA TODAY Arches National Park Being Sued For $270M After Gate Decapitated Guest The wind whipped a metal gate round which sliced through the passenger door of the car and decapitated Esther. The claim describes Nakajjigos final moments in graphic detail and says the end of the lance-like gate pierced the side of their car and penetrated it like a hot knife through butter.. The family of a young woman who was killed by a swinging gate at Arches National Park has sued the park service over her death. Michaud was the last plaintiff witness in the civil trial over the June 13, 2020, death of his wife, Esther Nakajjigo. . Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her. Esther Nakajjigo (credit: Ludovic Michaud). Nakajigos family and Michaud are suing the U.S. government for negligence as well as negligent infliction of emotional distress on the part of Michaud, who had to witness the grisly scene. SALT LAKE CITY (AP) The United States will pay family members of a Ugandan human rights activist killed in an accident at Arches National Park more than $10 million in damages, a federal judge ruled Monday. Michaud's wife, Esther Nakajjigo, 25, was a celebrated human rights activist in her home country of Uganda. Esther Nakajjigo (credit: Ludovic Michaud) Nakajjigo, 25, was a Ugandan human rights activist and moved to Colorado in 2019 to attend the Watson Institute in Boulder. Esther Nakajjigo and her husband were visiting the regions national parks months after their wedding. The United States will pay more than $10 million in damages over the death of Esther Nakajjigo, a prominent . Denver woman's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death We dont know with any level of certainty what her plans were, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nelson said. Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. But U.S. Attorney Amanda Berndt said while there's no question that the plaintiffs are entitled to a reward, a proper calculation of Nakajjigo's lost earnings must include the possibility that she might have left the workforce at some point for a variety of reasons. The wind whipped a metal. They said you have to lock it or its going to impale a car, so everyone knows, Chang said. Courtesy of. National parks begin to reopen across the country. DENVER (CBS4) - The family of a Denver woman has filed a $270 million wrongful death claim against Arches National Park after she was killed there over the summer. The women's rights activist from Uganda was 25 when, during a camping trip to Arches National Park in June 2020, she was beheaded by a metal gate that blew closed in strong winds and sliced through the side of the car she was riding in. It alleges that if park employees had properly installed the gate to not swing into oncoming traffic or placed an $8 padlock on the gate to secure it from moving in the breeze, the world would not have lost a young woman influencer destined to become our societys future Princess Diana, Philanthropist Melinda Gates, or Oprah Winfrey.. Ludovic Michaud, the husband of late human rights activist Esther Nakajjigo, has filed a $270 million wrongful death administrative claim against the National Park Service, according to a. Si vous ne souhaitez pas que nos partenaires et nousmmes utilisions des cookies et vos donnes personnelles pour ces motifs supplmentaires, cliquez sur Refuser tout. The gate reportedly smashed through the side of the car and struck Nakajjigo . I know all the parks around Moab Its one of my favourite places in the US, if not my favourite place.. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax It claims three other people have died from similar incidents involving gates in the last 32 years. She was subsequently named Ugandas ambassador for women and girls. ", In 2020, Ludovic Michaud was driving with his 25-year-old wife Esther Nakajjigo out of Utah's Arches National Park to get ice cream on June 13 when a metal gate swung into the car and cut her head off, according to a wrongful death administrative claim obtained by NBC News. The gate had been unsecured for the previous two weeks, despite national park requirements that prohibit gates from swinging, according to the complaint filed in U.S. District Court. Denver man files suit after wife's death at National Park - KMGH deductible, Report a missed paper by emailingsubscribe@sltrib.comor calling801-237-2900, For e-edition questions or comments, contact customer support801-237-2900or emailsubscribe@sltrib.com. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Trial begins two years after newlywed was beheaded by metal gate at Arches accidental beheading trial ends, but verdict is still pending "On behalf of the family, we are very appreciative of the judge's attention to detail, the time he spent working on this, and for the value he put on the loss to this family of Essie," added Littlepage. Family of Woman Killed at Arches National Park Awarded $10.5M "The National Park Service has, in fact, known for decades that an unsecured metal pipe gate creates an undetectable hazard and dangerous condition," the claim states. Twist after newlywed decapitated by gate at national park - Yahoo! Esther Nakajjigo was driving with her newlywed husband on their honeymoon in Arches when an open road gate was swung by strong winds into their rental car. Nakajjigo was not sure where she wanted to work whether it was in the U.S., back in Uganda or elsewhere but Michaud was willing to follow her wherever she could continue to make the most impact. Lindsay Whitehurst/AP But on June 13, she and her husband needed a break from quarantine and headed toward Arches National Park in Utah. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death But an attorney for her parents and husband said they were grateful for the judgment, which represents the largest federal wrongful death verdict in Utah history, the Associated Press reported. Nakajjigo, 25, was a Ugandan human rights activist and moved to Colorado in 2019 to attend the Watson Institute in Boulder. Nakajjigo also created a reality television show in Uganda focused on helping teenage mothers stay in school and learn life skills. Itd be like me pointing a piece of paper to you on its most narrow side. What if they had gone on a different day, or left at a different time? McGinn, representing Nakajjigos family, likened her to a nonprofit CEO for an American charity and said she would have likely made millions throughout her life. McGinn argued that the smaller projections were based on categories of evaluation not allowed for under Utah law. Esther Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud at Arches National Park in eastern Utah in the hours before a gate swung into the couple's car, killing Nakajjigo. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death One time it was the delivery of her Social Security card; another time, an update on her immigration status. "The show saw an audience of 6.3 million each week, and Nakajjigo was named Uganda's 'Young Personality of the Year,'" the Post reported. What happened during the 2023 Utah Legislature. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death Esther Nakajjigo beheaded by gate at Utah's Arches National Park | news This photo was taken in the hours before a gate swung into the couple's car, killing Nakajjigo. The ruling was. Instead, Michaud met his wife's family -- who traveled to the States from Uganda -- for the first time just before the trial started. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. mesurer votre utilisation de nos sites et applications. Nakajjigo, who went by Essie, was a womens rights champion in Uganda. The amount was far less than the $140 million Nakajjigos family originally sought. Family of Woman Decapitated by Swinging Gate at State Park Awarded $10. What if he hadn't suggested the trip. Elizabeth Chuck is a reporter for NBC News who focuses on health and mental health, particularly issues that affect women and children. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. According to a court filing, the National Park Service and Arches National Park created a lethal and undetectable danger with the gate, which turned a metal pipe into a spear that went straight through the side of a car, decapitating and killing Esther Nakajjigo.. The closing arguments came after five days of trial that included testimony from Nakajjigo's family, friends and mentors, as well as from bystanders who witnessed the accident. The family are arguing that the US Park Service was negligent and did not properly maintain the gates at the entrances and exits to the parks, leading to their loved one's death. SALT LAKE CITY The United States will pay family members of a Ugandan human rights activist killed in an accident at Arches National Park more than $10 million in damages, a federal judge ruled Monday. The sum they are seeking has not been disclosed, however a previous claim filed by the family against the National Park Service which is the step before a lawsuit can be filed asked for more than $A351 million. Though the amount was substantially less than pursued, attorneys representing the family of Esther Nakajjigo celebrated the judgement . Arches National Park is a 120-square-mile desert landscape near Moab, Utah, that is visited by more than 1.5 million people annually. The gate had been left unlatched against federal policy for two weeks prior to the tragic accident in June 2020. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5 million for Utah death - Los New pill cuts cholesterol, heart attacks, Suspect in Dylan Rounds disappearance charged with murder. All rights reserved. SALT LAKE CITY (AP) The United States will pay family members of a Ugandan human rights activist killed in an accident at Arches National Park more than . Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death Nakajjigo created a reality TV show that helped child mothers stay in school and develop life skills, according to The Denver Post. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. The gate narrowly avoided Michaud, who was left covered head to toe in his wife's blood. All this building towards the $140million in damages. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death Si vous souhaitez personnaliser vos choix, cliquez sur Grer les paramtres de confidentialit. Berndt also said her team can take into account only Nakajjigo's education and earning history at the time of her death, exclusive from the money she raised for charitable organizations. Michaud hopes he and Nakajjigos family can continue her legacy. US attorneys have said this claim was too speculative to be used as a basis for damages. (Julie Jacobson | AP file photo) A Denver man has filed a $270 million wrongful death claim, a precursor to a lawsuit, against the National Park Service after a metal gate at Arches National Park collided collided with his car on June 13, killing his wife. She met Ludovic Michaud in Boulder, Colorado, when she went there for a leadership accelerator program in 2019, and the two of them married in March 2020. The 25-year-old human rights activist and newlywed wife. FOX 13 Investigates: Family sues over death of woman killed in Arches / CBS Colorado. Newlywed woman decapitated by car park entrance gate blown open in high "I'm doing whatever I can to get better. Newlyweds Esther "Essie" Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud visited the park in mid June. The tragic accident is now the subject of a wrongful death lawsuit Michaud and Nakajjigo's family are pursuing, in which they argue that the U.S. Park Service was negligent and did not maintain . At age 17, Nakajjigo was recognized by the United Nations for her work for women, according to the claim. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death "We respect the judges decision and hope this award will help her loved ones as they continue to heal for this tragedy," added the U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah. The federal trial began Monday in Utah, where the husband and family of Nakajjigo are seeking $140 million in damages from the U.S. government, arguing in a complaint that the national park was negligent and failed to properly maintain the gate. While much less than they were initially seeking, the family was clearly pleased with the results -- with attorney Zoe Littlepage calling the amount "the largest verdict from a federal judge in Utah history.". A cruise employee has had his contract terminated after he was allegedly seen filming women from a female bathroom. The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who was driving. Monday's closing arguments focused heavily on the differences in testimony made by several economic experts, two of whom projected that Nakajjigo would have earned at least $9 million in her lifetime and the third who estimated Nakajjigo would have made between about $750,000 and $938,000. The gruesome nature of Nakajjigo's death and the fact that she was a renowned Ugandan women's rights activist drew widespread attention to the case. What if he hadn't suggested the trip to Arches? 72 Join Insider . The. In 2020, Ludovic Michaud was driving with his 25-year-old wife Esther Nakajjigo out of Utah's Arches National Park to get ice cream on June 13 when a metal gate swung into the car and cut her. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. Denver7's Lance Hernandez reports. "On behalf of the United States, we again extend our condolences to Ms. Nakajjigos friends, family and beloved community. You wouldnt able to detect it or see it.. Matthew McConaugheys wife was among the passengers on board a Lufthansa flight struck by severe turbulence and has described the chaos. They wed in a courthouse ceremony in March 2020, three months before her death, and had plans to have a big ceremony in Uganda when it was safe to travel again. Just as the coronavirus pandemic took hold in the U.S., Michaud, a video streaming technology solution architect who is originally from France, and Nakajjigo decided they wanted to marry. The United Nations Population Fund awarded her a Woman Achiever Award," the claim states. Throughout the trial, attorneys debated estimates of Nakajjigos earnings potential. All times AEDT (GMT +11). Its still hard to concentrate, but I try to.. One, Saving Innocence, depicted teenage girls from urban areas helping teen moms in rural communities go back to school. Nakajjigo married Denver man Ludovic Michaud in March 2020. They were driving toward the exit when suddenly a gust of wind lifted a metal gate and the arm swung into the roadway.