Woman's decapitation at Arches National Park leads to $270M wrongful Twist after newlywed decapitated by gate at national park - Yahoo! Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. According to NBC, the claim was served Oct. 22, and 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.. The Associated Press 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. In their legal complaint, Michaud and Nakajjigos parents said the National Park Service was negligent for not maintaining the gate. Arches accidental beheading trial ends, but verdict is still pending FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. In pink tops and white pants, women celebrate free period products becoming available in Utahs state buildings, Proposal to boost Utah bar licenses gets smaller with another round of cuts by lawmakers, Moab, Park City cry foul as Utah lawmakers target rules for vacation homes. Her husband, Michaud, is seeking $240 million in damages from the National Park Service, while Nakajjigo's family is seeking $30 million. 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"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. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax Donate to the newsroom now. Nakajjigo worked on fundraising to open a hospital in an underserved part of Kampala, Ugandas capital, became a philanthropic celebrity and immigrated to the United States for a fellowship at the Boulder, Colorado-based Watson Institute for emerging leaders. 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.. The administrative claim is a legally required precursor to a lawsuit, which is expected to be filed in about six months. I really wanted to show her Arches, he told Fox 13. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. A lot of things remind me of her, Michaud told the. 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. The familys lawsuit claims when the national parks reopened in April 2020 after being shuttered due to Covid-19, rangers at the national park in Utah didnt secure the gate in place, which in effect turned a metal pipe into a spear that went straight through the side of a car, decapitating and killing Esther Nakajjigo. Human rights activist Esther Nakajjigo, 25, died on June 13, 2020, when a traffic control gate blew into her rental car at Arches National Park in the US state of Utah. "I'll respond as soon as I'm able," Jenkins said. 2023 EHM Productions, Inc. All rights reserved. in the two-plus years since his wife, Esther "Essie" Nakajjigo, was hit and killed by an unsecured gate while the couple was leaving Arches National Park. On Monday, a federal judge in Utah ruled that the. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death None. Additionally, Berndt said the plaintiffs can only speculate on what Nakajjigo might have done had she lived, and the court can't ignore that "in favor of dreams and potential.". She rose from poverty to become the host of a solutions-oriented reality television series in Uganda focused on empowering women on issues such as education and healthcare, and had successfully raised funds to build health care facilities in her hometown. She met Michaud on Tinder in 2019, when she was attending a leadership program in Boulder, Colorado. Arches National Park is best known for its pristine sandstone arches and its massive red Delicate Arch, which has featured in countless Instagram photos.. On October 22, Michaud filed a wrongful death claim against the US National Parks Service seeking . Michaud hopes he and Nakajjigos family can continue her legacy. Fox13 reports the metal. One time it was the delivery of her Social Security card; another time, an update on her immigration status. FOX 13 Investigates: Family sues over death of woman killed in Arches Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her. By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's. Courtesy of. Activist, 25, hailed as 'future Oprah or Princess Diana' is What awaited them there was as awful as it was unthinkable. Matthew McConaugheys wife was among the passengers on board a Lufthansa flight struck by severe turbulence and has described the chaos. We hope that, in some way, the conclusion of this trial will help with your moving forward.". I felt completely meaningless after losing Nakajjigo, he said. A lot of things remind me of her, Michaud told the Salt Lake Tribune. 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. Denver Woman Decapitated By Gate: Family Files $270M - CBS News 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. Esther Nakajjigo was decapitated at Arches National Park in Utah after wind swung an untethered metal gate into her car, killing her immediately as her husband sat in the seat next to her. 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. Diana Dasrath is entertainment producer and senior reporter for NBC News covering all platforms. November 12, 2020 / 2:34 PM Everything reminds Michaud of Nakajjigo. 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. They argued that had employees installed the gate properly and secured it with an $8 padlock, Nakajjigos death could have been prevented, This decision serves as a reminder of the importance of proper maintenance and safety measures in our national parks, so as to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future, Michaud said in, on Monday. Nakajjigos remains were flown back to Uganda in August. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death All rights reserved. Picture: Handout The family of a women's rights activist who was decapitated in an accident on a trip with her new husband has sued the US government agency responsible for the park where she died. In their legal complaint, Michaud and Nakajjigos parents said the National Park Service was negligent for not maintaining the gate. Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Family of Ugandan philanthropist decapitated by traffic gate in Arches 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. They had a courthouse ceremony in March, with plans to throw a big wedding in Uganda once it was safe to travel again. Denver7's Lance Hernandez reports. Disputing the family's claims the victim was on track to become the CEO of a non-profit who could eventually have netted an annual income in the hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. The amount was far less than the $140 million Nakajjigos family originally sought. Ms McGinn described Nakajjigo as a prominent womens rights activist who rose from poverty to become the host of a solutions-oriented reality television series in Uganda focused on empowering women around issues such as education and healthcare. Attorneys representing the U.S. commended her work, yet noted her most recent job was working at a restaurant making $15 per hour. Newlyweds Esther "Essie" Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud visited the park in mid June. The metal gate at Arches National Park, normally secured with a lock, was left untethered. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death Ms Nakajjigo met Mr Michaud after she relocated to the US, where she was awarded the Luff Peace Fellowship by the University of Boulder in Colorado. 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. Arches National Park is a 120-square-mile desert landscape near Moab, Utah, that is visited by more than 1.5 million people annually. Michaud was the last plaintiff witness in the civil trial over the June 13, 2020, death of his wife, Esther Nakajjigo. The family of Esther Nakajjigo accused the National Park Service of negligence for not properly securing the metal gate that killed her. Nous, Yahoo, faisons partie de la famille de marques Yahoo. Instead, the Utah park became the site of a horrific accident that killed her. Though the amount was substantially less than pursued, attorneys representing the family of Esther Nakajjigo celebrated the judgment, saying it was the largest federal wrongful death verdict in Utah history. As the couple was leaving the park, gusts of wind swung the gate around rapidly, enough to slice through the passenger side door of the couples car, decapitating Nakajjigo as her husband sat feet away in the drivers seat. He no longer has a TV in his apartment because the sight of any blood is triggering, he said. Estimated read time: 5-6 Ugandan newlywed Esther Nakajjigo, 25, was visiting Arches National Park in Utah in June 2020 when she was struck and killed by a metal pole attached to a traffic control gate. Nakajjigo received numerous international accolades and awards and had come to the United States to further her education, participating in programs at Drexel University in Philadelphia as a Mandela Washington Fellow and at the Watson Institute in Boulder, Colorado, where she was the recipient of a Luff Peace Fellowship. Family sues after newlywed is killed by gate at Arches park The family of a Ugandan young girl child activist, Esther Nakajjigo who died in the United States of America (USA) have asked government to help them repatriate her body, to be accorded a decent burial. I know all the parks around Moab Its one of my favourite places in the US, if not my favourite place.. 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. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, was on a trip to the Utah park with her . There is a lot of small things I miss.. Opening arguments began Monday in Salt Lake City in a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the family of a 25-year-old women's rights activist from Uganda who was killed by a wind-blown gate during a camping trip to Arches National Park in June 2020. FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. "I'm doing whatever I can to get better. Esther Nakajjigo had been visiting Utah's Arches National Park when she was killed by a gate caught in the wind. They argued that had employees installed the gate properly and secured it with an $8 padlock, Nakajjigos death could have been prevented, NBC News reported. Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. Ms Chang described the part of the gate that struck Ms Nakajjigo as being like a metal spear or a lance and hit the car in literally a split second. The lawsuit alleges that a simple $8 padlock could have prevented the gate from swinging, and claims the park violated regulations. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death Theres a newsletter that went out to all the parks and the National Park Service that warned of this decades ago. Instead of planning their future together, Michaud is now processing the trauma and grief of Nakajjigos gruesome death and hoping the lawsuit his attorney plans to file will save other families from experiencing what he did. The gate narrowly avoided Michaud, who was left covered head to toe in his wife's blood. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death Esther Nakajjigo (credit: Ludovic Michaud). Though the amount was substantially less than pursued, attorneys representing the family of Esther Nakajjigo celebrated the judgement, [] Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death Esther Nakajjigo, a 25-year-old Ugandan human rights activist, was killed in a horrific accident at Arches National Park on June 13, 2020. The end of that trial came Monday, but a verdict is still pending. 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. Esther Nakajjigo lost her life when she was decapitated at an entrance to Arches National Park in Utah back in June. Nakajjigo and her husband Ludovic Michaud were vacationing in eastern Utah, visiting the region's national parks months after their wedding. US attorneys have said this claim was too speculative to be used as a basis for damages. 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. 'Shadow pandemic': Women, girls bear unequal share of Covid-19 burden, U.N. official warns, National parks begin to reopen across the country. Denver woman killed during visit to Arches National Park Esther Nakajjigo was a prominent Ugandan human rights activist who was killed in Utah's Arches National Park in 2020. According to Deborah Chang, the Los Angeles-based trial attorney representing Michaud, there was nothing he could have done to swerve out of the way of the gate that killed his wife and narrowly missed him. . Courtesy Ludovic Michaud Nakajjigo. The gate reportedly smashed through the side of the car and struck Nakajjigo . At just 17, using her college tuition money, she created a nonprofit community health center. IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. During the trials opening statements in December, Nakajjigo was described as a pearl beyond price with limitless potential. minutes. The United States will pay more than $10 million in damages over the death of Esther Nakajjigo, a prominent . But now, Michaud said, he returns to an apartment that doesn't feel like a home. She added that the plaintiffs' assumption that Nakajjigo would have taken a salary "far in excess" of most nonprofit CEOs is "simply contrary to everything the court has heard about her," Berndt said. 45 Join Insider . SALT LAKE CITY Ludovic "Ludo" Michaud has tortured himself with a lot of "what ifs?" For this work, the United Nations Population Fund gave her the Woman Achiever Award. 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. For this work, the United Nations Population Fund gave her the Woman Achiever Award. Lorsque vous utilisez nos sites et applications, nous utilisons des, authentifier les utilisateurs, appliquer des mesures de scurit, empcher les spams et les abus; et. Si vous souhaitez personnaliser vos choix, cliquez sur Grer les paramtres de confidentialit. Nakajjigo's family sued the government for the largest federal award ever asked for in both state and national history, according to plaintiffs' attorney Randi McGinn, seeking $140 million in damages. National parks begin to reopen across the country. Later, his chin trembled as Nelson delivered the government's apology. You wouldnt able to detect it or see it.. Nakajjigo married Denver man Ludovic Michaud in March 2020. The gate had been left unlatched against federal policy for two weeks prior to the tragic accident in June 2020. 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. He and his wife, Esther Nakajjigo, who had moved to Colorado from Uganda, went to Utah as a welcome break from being quarantined. / CBS Colorado. Its known for a series of sculpture-like fins and arches made of an orange sandstone that wind and water have eroded for centuries. It feels lonely, and thats hard. The 25-year-old human rights activist and newlywed wife was killed on June 13, 2020, in Arches National Park. The same year, Nakajjigo was named Ugandas ambassador for women and girls. 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. Chang expects to file the lawsuit in about six months. At age 17, she used her college tuition money to start a nonprofit community health center, which provided free reproductive health services to young women and girls. Judge Bruce Jenkins said he wants to "examine with care" all the information presented during the weeklong trial. Arches National Park Being Sued For $270M After Gate Decapitated Guest Instead, "the end of the lance-like gate pierced the side of their car and penetrated it like a hot knife through butter." Throughout the trial, attorneys debated estimates of Nakajjigos earnings potential. 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. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. A newlywed Denver couple's road trip to Arches National Park in Utah this summer ended in . Esther Nakajjigo was born in poverty in Kampala, Uganda, and rose to become a celebrated human rights activist through her work focusing on preventing teen pregnancy. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5 million for Utah death - Los The National Park Service has not commented in relation to the new lawsuit but has previously released a statement expressing sympathy for the young womans death. Ms Nakajjigos husband said his wifes death was the worst thing I hope I will ever see. (Athea Trial Lawyers) Esther Nakajjigo is shown in this undated photo. The ongoing trial will largely focus on determining the damages that may go to her family and Michaud. Esther Nakajjigo beheaded by gate at Utah's Arches National Park | news Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death A cruise employee has had his contract terminated after he was allegedly seen filming women from a female bathroom. Posted at 10:15 PM, Nov 12, 2020 McGinn argued that the smaller projections were based on categories of evaluation not allowed for under Utah law. 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. Having received numerous international accolades and awards, Nakajjigo came to the United States to further her education, where she met Michaud a video streaming technology solution architect via a dating app. Sign up today. Its a fear of erasing her, I guess, when you use something that she bought or that she ate or that we did together.. The suit was filed last. Testimony ends in trial of Ugandan woman decapitated in Arches National 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.. 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 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 . The United States will pay more than $10 million in damages over the death of Esther Nakajjigo, a prominent Ugandan human rights activist killed in Arches National Park in 2020. Updated: Jan 31, 2023 / 03:49 PM MST. Nakajjigo had been celebrated for using money earmarked for her college tuition to instead open a nonprofit community health center in Uganda at age 17. Activist Esther Nakajjigo's family beg Ugandan government to return But on Friday, U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nelson tried to give Michaud some peace of mind. FILE Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. 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. 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.". The United States will pay more than $10 million in damages over the death of Esther Nakajjigo, a . The United States will pay more than $10 million in damages over the death of Esther Nakajjigo, a prominent Ugandan human rights activist killed in Arches National Park in 2020. Itd be like me pointing a piece of paper to you on its most narrow side. 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. We dont know with any level of certainty what her plans were, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nelson said. An activist's dreams 'were about to come true.' Then, a horrific 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.
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