sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. The United States will pay more than $10 million in damages over the death of Esther Nakajjigo, a prominent . "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. The amount was far less than the $140 million Nakajjigos family originally sought. 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 . Mr Michaud and Ms Nakajjigos family have filed a lawsuit in a US court accusing the National Park Service of negligence, Fox 13 reports. It claims three other people have died from similar incidents involving gates in the last 32 years. The claim she served is legally required before a lawsuit can be filed in court. 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. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death 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.. Nakajjigo was decapitated after wind swung an untethered metal gate into her . For this work, the United Nations Population Fund gave her the Woman Achiever Award. A cruise employee has had his contract terminated after he was allegedly seen filming women from a female bathroom. 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. As recreation areas in eastern Utah reopened that summer, Michaud was excited to take his new wife to Arches National Park, and the two drove there in June. US attorneys have said this claim was too speculative to be used as a basis for damages. He said he didnt deny Nakajjigo was an extraordinary person, but argued it was difficult to speculate what kind of work she would have gone on to do. 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. The claim alleged that had park employees used an $8 padlock to secure the gate from moving in the breeze, it could have avoided the victim being "needlessly decapitated.". Esther Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud at Arches National Park in eastern Utah. 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. They said you have to lock it or its going to impale a car, so everyone knows, Chang said. A newlywed Denver couple's road trip to Arches National Park in Utah this summer ended in . He noted she had recently worked as a host at a restaurant around the time of her death and didnt have a Bachelors degree. The lawsuit alleges that a simple $8 padlock could have prevented the gate from swinging, and claims the park violated regulations. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. On June 13, she was needlessly decapitated by a metal gate that swung into the couples car as they were exiting the Arches parking lot on their way to go get ice cream, according to a wrongful death administrative claim exclusively obtained by NBC News. All times AEDT (GMT +11). Nakajjigo, 25, was a Ugandan human rights activist and moved to Colorado in 2019 to attend the Watson Institute in Boulder. All rights reserved. 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. None. Even simple tasks like cooking rice stored in a jar that Nakajjigo bought before her death feel paralyzing, he said. SALT LAKE CITY Ludovic "Ludo" Michaud has tortured himself with a lot of "what ifs?" 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 . Instead, the Utah park became the site of a horrific accident that killed her. 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.". She was also awarded a full scholarship from the king of Buganda. 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 Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. 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. 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 ongoing trial will largely focus on determining the damages that may go to her family and Michaud. The 25-year-old human rights activist and newlywed wife. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death You wouldnt able to detect it or see it.. IE 11 is not supported. But when she met Michaud in June 2019 in Aurora, Colorado, through a dating app, he just saw her as a smart person who loved to laugh. The gate had been left unlatched against federal policy for two weeks prior to the tragic accident in June 2020. 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. 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. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax First published on November 12, 2020 / 2:34 PM. Arches accidental beheading trial ends, but verdict is still pending Nakajjigo was killed instantly. Arches National Park Being Sued For $270M After Gate Decapitated Guest Nakajjigo was decapitated after wind swung an untethered metal gate into her car, killing her immediately as her husband sat in the seat next to her. Newlyweds Esther "Essie" Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud visited the park in mid June. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her husband in Denver, where she moved to attend a leadership course on a full scholarship. The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who was driving. Fox13 reports the metal. Berndt said her team in no way believes Nakajjigo was an average person, and that using reliable data to estimate her lost earnings isn't a value judgment of Nakajjigo. 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. 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. 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. We hope that, in some way, the conclusion of this trial will help with your moving forward.". The same year, Nakajjigo was named Ugandas ambassador for women and girls. 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 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 Denver7's Lance Hernandez reports. Family sues after newlywed is killed by gate at Arches park 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. 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. The United Nations Population Fund awarded her a Woman Achiever Award," the claim states. FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. During the trials opening statements in December, Nakajjigo was described as a pearl beyond price with limitless potential. 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). Yet park employees could have done a lot, the claim alleges, including taking note during inspections of the gate that it posed a danger and putting an inexpensive padlock on it. "Because (Nakajjigo) is off the charts, you can't use the charts to evaluate her," McGinn said. Family of Woman Killed at Arches National Park Awarded $10.5M She was named as Ugandas ambassador for women and girls and received an award from the United Nations after she used her university tuition money to start a non-profit community centre that offered free healthcare to girls and women aged 10 to 24. 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. 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. A lot of things remind me of her, Michaud told the. Elizabeth Chuck is a reporter for NBC News who focuses on health and mental health, particularly issues that affect women and children. He and his wife, Esther Nakajjigo, who had moved to Colorado from Uganda, went to Utah as a welcome break from being quarantined. Denver woman killed during visit to Arches National Park 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. Later, his chin trembled as Nelson delivered the government's apology. minutes. By his verdict, Judge Bruce Jenkins has shown the world how the American justice system works to hold its own government accountable and greatly values all lives, including that of Esther Nakajjigo, a remarkable young woman from Uganda, Randi McGinn, the familys attorney said in a statement. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5 million for Utah death - Los Angeles Times Posted at 10:15 PM, Nov 12, 2020 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.. 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. One series reportedly had a weekly audience of 6.3 million viewers. 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. Si vous souhaitez personnaliser vos choix, cliquez sur Grer les paramtres de confidentialit. I found her really interesting. 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. Nous, Yahoo, faisons partie de la famille de marques Yahoo. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death Pour en savoir plus sur la faon dont nous utilisons vos donnes personnelles, veuillez consulter notre politique relative la vie prive et notre politique en matire de cookies. For this work, the United Nations Population Fund gave her the Woman Achiever Award. One time it was the delivery of her Social Security card; another time, an update on her immigration status. Esther Nakajjigo, a native of Uganda, accomplished more at age 25 than most do in a lifetime. Our mission is to make sure this doesnt happen again, the husband of Esther Nakajjigo told NBC News in an exclusive interview. Nakajjigos remains were flown back to Uganda in August. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Esther Nakajjigo (credit: Ludovic Michaud). Courtesy of. A lot of things remind me of her, Michaud told the Salt Lake Tribune. FOX 13 Investigates: Family sues over death of woman killed in Arches 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. He has since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and has struggled with flashbacks. Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her. 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. The. 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.
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