The large monetary damages being sought on behalf of Michaud and Nakajjigos parents are a reflection of the suffering they have gone through plus the loss of Nakajjigos future income and fundraising abilities, Chang said. "You bear no responsibility. 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. 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. 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. The family of Ugandan philanthropist Esther Nakajjigo, who was decapitated by a traffic gate in front of her husband in Arches National Park in Utah, has been awarded $10.5m. During the trials opening statements in December, Nakajjigo was described as a pearl beyond price with limitless potential, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. Get Toofab breaking news sent right to your browser! 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. FILE Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. 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 . 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. The trial gave me and Essies family members an opportunity to tell Essies beautiful story, and it was so important to me to have the chance to stand up and speak for this amazing woman.. Outside's long reads email newsletter features our strongest writing, most ambitious reporting, and award-winning storytelling about the outdoors. Esther Nakajjigo and her husband were visiting the regions national parks months after their wedding. Her mother flew to Utah from Uganda to attend the trial this week. Fox13 reports the metal. Attorneys for the government have not disputed that park officials are at fault but instead have disputed how much the family should be awarded. Continuing her work brings him hope; he's already started a nonprofit in her name, the Esther Nakajjigo Foundation. 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 family of a woman beheaded by a metal gate in front of her husband at a national park has launched a lawsuit for $140million (115m). 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. "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. He and his wife, Esther Nakajjigo, who had moved to Colorado from Uganda, went to Utah as a welcome break from being quarantined. Her husband, Michaud, is seeking $240 million in damages from the National Park Service, while Nakajjigo's family is seeking $30 million. 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. Photo: Esther Nakajjigo/Twitter. McGinn argued that the smaller projections were based on categories of evaluation not allowed for under Utah law. 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. 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 . We hope that, in some way, the conclusion of this trial will help with your moving forward.". Ludovic Michaud and his new wife, Esther Nakajjigo, were driving around Arches National Park on a windy spring day in 2020 when a metal gate whipped around, sliced through the passenger door of. What if they had gone on a different day, or left at a different time? 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Its a fear of erasing her, I guess, when you use something that she bought or that she ate or that we did together.. She was always willing to help, he said. When he inhaled the copper-tinged smell of blood, turned to figure out what it was and saw his beheaded wife. 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. Recreation areas had recently opened after pandemic-era closures and, on the edge of Arches, a metal gate normally secured with a lock was left untethered. Nakajjigo, who went by Essie, was a womens rights champion in Uganda. Michaud, Nakajjigo's husband, spoke about the intense trauma he's endured since his wife's death, including sleeplessness, nightmares and suicidal ideation. On June 13, 2020, Nakajjigo, who was riding in the passenger seat as her husband drove them out of the park, was suddenly decapitated when the triangular, metal gate swung around and sliced into their rental car. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, was driving around the stunning Arches National Park in Utah, US, in 2020 along with her husband Ludovic Michaud when the unthinkable happened. The family had initially sought a total of $270 million in damages, before lowering the amount to $140 -- while the government only wanted to pay $3.5 million. By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax There have been gate accidents across the country, including another one on federal government property in 1980 in which a camper in California was impaled by a U.S. Forest Service road closure gate. US attorneys have said this claim was too speculative to be used as a basis for damages. The same year, Nakajjigo was named Ugandas ambassador for women and girls. 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. Chang expects to file the lawsuit in about six months. He spoke, too, about the difficulty of sending his wife's body to Uganda in a cardboard box; how only her hands, one of them broken, were visible at her funeral; and how he moved to a new apartment after the accident, unable to bear the reminders of the life he'd shared with Nakajjigo. The wind whipped a metal. Its a fear of erasing her, I guess, when you use something that she bought or that she ate or that we did together, he said. 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. Even simple tasks like cooking rice stored in a jar that Nakajjigo bought before her death feel paralyzing, he said. The claim she served is legally required before a lawsuit can be filed in court. Michaud was the last plaintiff witness in the civil trial over the June 13, 2020, death of his wife, Esther Nakajjigo. The suit was filed last. Nakajjigo married Denver man Ludovic Michaud in March 2020. They had a courthouse ceremony in March, with plans to throw a big wedding in Uganda once it was safe to travel again. The United States will pay more than $10 million in damages over the death of Esther Nakajjigo, a . 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. I really wanted to show her Arches, he told Fox 13. "This act of selflessness went viral throughout Uganda, and she was featured in numerous magazines and news publications. The wind whipped a metal gate round which sliced through the passenger door of the car and decapitated Esther. 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. At other points, he dabbed at his eyes; he lived like a student before meeting Nakajjigo, he said, but she turned their apartment into a home. IE 11 is not supported. Our mission is to make sure this doesnt happen again, Michaud said. Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her. All times AEDT (GMT +11). Though the amount was substantially less than pursued, attorneys representing the family of Esther Nakajjigo celebrated the judgement . Nakajjigos remains were flown back to Uganda in August. Esther Nakajjigo, a 25-year-old Ugandan human rights activist, was killed in a horrific accident at Arches National Park on June 13, 2020. 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. They were driving toward the exit when suddenly a gust of wind lifted a metal gate and the arm swung into the roadway. 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. Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her husband in Denver, where she moved to attend a leadership course on a full scholarship. 45 Join Insider . This is not the first time a tragedy like this has happened. mesurer votre utilisation de nos sites et applications. The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who was driving. Updated: Jan 31, 2023 / 03:49 PM MST. 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. 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. The French national said he and his wife, who had only been married for three months and lived in Denver, Colorado, had been on a hike and had lunch before driving out of the park. SALT LAKE CITY Ludovic "Ludo" Michaud has tortured himself with a lot of "what ifs?" The administrative claim is a legally required precursor to a lawsuit, which is expected to be filed in about six months. There is a lot of small things I miss.. "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, as reported by CBS Denver.. $270 MILLION LAWSUIT Recreation areas had recently opened after pandemic-era closures and . What if he hadn't suggested the trip to Arches? 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.. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. A federal judge ruled Monday that the U.S. will shell out more than $10 million in damages to the family of Esther Nakajjigo after she was killed in an accident at a Utah national park in. 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. The family of Esther Nakajjigo accused the National Park Service of negligence for not properly securing the metal gate that killed her. Michaud said he and Nakajjigo were two weeks shy of closing on a condo when the accident occurred, with hopes of owning a house down the road. / CBS Colorado. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The end of that trial came Monday, but a verdict is still pending. 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. All this building towards the $140million in damages. The lawsuit alleges that a simple $8 padlock could have prevented the gate from swinging, and claims the park violated regulations. Attorneys representing Michaud and Nakajjigos parents asked for $140 million in damages, while the government said an appropriate award would be roughly $3.5 million. One time it was the delivery of her Social Security card; another time, an update on her immigration status. A woman who had married her husband only three months ago has died after a horror crash saw a car park gate swing through the couple's car and cut off her head. 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. At age 17, Nakajjigo was recognized by the United Nations for her work for women, according to the claim. Esther "Essie" Nakajjigo's husband and parents initially filed a $270 million claim against the National Park Service in 2021 over her 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. A cruise employee has had his contract terminated after he was allegedly seen filming women from a female bathroom. 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 Esther Nakajjigo had been visiting Utah's Arches National Park when she was killed by a gate caught in the wind. 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. For this work, the United Nations Population Fund gave her the Woman Achiever Award. What if he hadn't suggested the trip. Nakajjigo, 25, was a Ugandan human rights activist and moved to Colorado in 2019 to attend the Watson Institute in Boulder. FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. This photo was taken in the hours before a gate swung into the couple's car, killing Nakajjigo. 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. The family of a human rights activist killed in a freak accident at Utah's Arches State Park won $10.5 million in damages from the U.S. government. It's really a full-time job," he said. (Athea Trial Lawyers) Esther Nakajjigo is shown in this undated photo. I was a couple of inches from dying, but I didnt, and right now I have a mission: Its to make sure what shes done continues.. 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 a statement to CBS News on Monday. I couldnt work properly for a couple of months. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Though the amount was substantially less than pursued, attorneys representing the family of Esther Nakajjigo celebrated the judgement, [] Nous, Yahoo, faisons partie de la famille de marques Yahoo. Nakajjigo was. During the trials opening statements in December, Nakajjigo was described as a pearl beyond price with limitless potential. The gate reportedly smashed through the side of the car and struck Nakajjigo . Elizabeth Chuck is a reporter for NBC News who focuses on health and mental health, particularly issues that affect women and children. 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. 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. I know all the parks around Moab Its one of my favourite places in the US, if not my favourite place.. Esther Nakajjigo, a 25-year-old Ugandan activist who'd moved to Colorado in 2019 to attend the Watson Institute in Boulder, died June 13, 2020, while visiting the park with her husband of two One series reportedly had a weekly audience of 6.3 million viewers. 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. 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 couple was leaving a park parking lot to get ice cream when a metal traffic control gate swung into the road, piercing the passenger side of the couples rental car and severing Nakajjigos head. 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. November 12, 2020 / 2:34 PM Newlyweds Esther "Essie" Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud visited the park in mid June. 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. I found her really interesting. The trial gave me and Essies family members an opportunity to tell Essies beautiful story, and it was so important to me to have the chance to stand up and speak for this amazing woman.. 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. Nothing we can say makes up for your loss. She was named Ugandas ambassador for women and girls. 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. 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 . Arches National Park is a 120-square-mile desert landscape near Moab, Utah, that is visited by more than 1.5 million people annually. Attorneys representing the U.S. commended her work, yet noted her most recent job was working at a restaurant making $15 per hour. "For want of an $8.00 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good; a young woman influencer who was destined to become our society's future Princess Diana, Philanthropist Melinda Gates or Oprah Winfrey," read the initial claim from Nakajjigo's husband and family. This photo was taken in the hours before a gate swung into the couple's car, killing Nakajjigo. The 25-year-old human rights activist and newlywed wife. On Monday, a federal judge in Utah ruled that the. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. All rights reserved. Michaud was not injured in the accident, but he was covered head-to-toe in his wifes blood. The trip to the wind-weathered sandstone of Arches National Park was supposed to be a celebration a chance for Ludovic Michaud, of Denver, to show his new wife one of his favorite landmarks. 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. The family of a womens 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. 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. 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 gate narrowly avoided Michaud, who was left covered head to toe in his wife's blood. Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her. Instead, the Utah park became the site of a horrific accident that killed her. Instead, Michaud met his wife's family -- who traveled to the States from Uganda -- for the first time just before the trial started. Ludovic Michaud and his new wife, Esther Nakajjigo, were driving around Arches National Park on a windy spring day in 2020 when a metal gate whipped around, sliced through the passenger door of. 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. A lot of things remind me of her, Michaud told the Salt Lake Tribune. Esther Nakajjigo was a prominent Ugandan human rights activist who was killed in Utah's Arches National Park in 2020. Esther Nakajjigo died on June 13 after a metal gate swung into a car she and her husband were in and sliced het head off Credit: Handout. Here's what lawmakers have directed schools to do, Can't take statins? 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. Courtesy Ludovic Michaud Nakajjigo. Nakajjigo donated her own college fund to start a hospital, Berndt said; she raised money for charities and never took a salary. She later created a pair of reality television shows designed to empower women. In their legal complaint, Michaud and Nakajjigos parents said the National Park Service was negligent for not maintaining the gate. Cruise staffer fired after shock bathroom act, Passengers injured as turbulence rocks plane. None. But on June 13, she and her husband needed a break from quarantine and headed toward Arches National Park in Utah. Esther Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud at Arches National Park in eastern Utah. Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her. The. "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. In opening statements Monday in Salt Lake City, their attorneys said they were seeking $140 million (115m) in damages from the government accounting for Esther's earning potential. As they were leaving the park on June 13, 2020, heavy winds apparently blew the metal entrance gate into the passenger side of the vehicle, striking and killing Nakajjigo. She met Michaud on Tinder in 2019, when she was attending a leadership program in Boulder, Colorado. National parks begin to reopen across the country. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. Ms Nakajjigo worked to improve education and rights for women and teenage girls in her home country of Uganda and advocated to reduce rates of teenage pregnancy. 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. He no longer has a TV in his apartment because the sight of any blood is triggering, he said. 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. You wouldnt able to detect it or see it.. For this work, the United Nations Population Fund gave her the Woman Achiever Award. 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.. SALT . After seeing a pregnant 14-year-old girl die during a difficult delivery, Nakajjigo decided to use her college tuition money to start a nonprofit community health center that provided free reproductive health services to females aged 10-24. Join Outside+ to get Outside magazine, access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax We dont know with any level of certainty what her plans were, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nelson said. 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 report by NBC News, following a June accident at Arches National Park near Moab.
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