Ms Nakajjigos husband said his wifes death was the worst thing I hope I will ever see. 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. A family is getting $10 million in the wrongful death of Ugandan human rights activist Esther Nakajjigo, who was decapitated by a swinging metal gate in Arches National Park, Utah. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax Get Toofab breaking news sent right to your browser! 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.". Esther Nakajjigo and her husband were visiting the regions national parks months after their wedding. What if he hadn't suggested the trip to Arches? Though the amount was substantially less than pursued, attorneys representing the family of Esther Nakajjigo celebrated the judgement, [] Ms Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludo Michaud, 26, were driving out of the scenic parks carpark when wind caught the unlatched gate and the metal pole on top sliced through the side of their rental car and hit Ms Nakajjigo in the head and neck, killing her instantly. On Monday, a federal judge in Utah ruled that the U.S. government must pay her family more than $10 million in damages. 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 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. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. The United States will pay more than $10 million in damages over the death of Esther Nakajjigo, a prominent . 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.. Throughout the trial, attorneys debated estimates of Nakajjigos earnings potential. On Monday, a federal judge in Utah ruled that the. Nakajjigo also created a reality television show in Uganda focused on helping teenage mothers stay in school and learn life skills. There is a lot of small things I miss.. The familys lawyer Deborah Chang said the gate struck the car so suddenly and was so well blended into the surrounding landscape the honeymooning couple had no chance of avoiding it. 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. Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her husband in Denver, where she moved to attend a leadership course on a full scholarship. By age 25, when she died, she had accomplished more than most people do in an entire lifetime and had much more to do with her life, court documents state. We hope that, in some way, the conclusion of this trial will help with your moving forward.". 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. Sign up today. IE 11 is not supported. One of his regrets is not saying, "I love you," one more time. 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. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. What if they had gone on a different day, or left at a different time? But on Friday, U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nelson tried to give Michaud some peace of mind. Nakajjigo, who went by Essie, was a womens rights champion in Uganda. Our mission is to make sure this doesnt happen again, Michaud said. Nakajjigo, 25, was a Ugandan human rights activist and moved to Colorado in 2019 to attend the Watson Institute in Boulder. The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who was driving. "This act of selflessness went viral throughout Uganda, and she was featured in numerous magazines and news publications. Nakajjigo was decapitated after wind swung an untethered metal gate into her . 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. (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. 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. 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 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. Esther Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludovic Michaud, pose at Arches National Park on June 13, 2020. 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. Her husband, Michaud, is seeking $240 million in damages from the National Park Service, while Nakajjigo's family is seeking $30 million. The United States will pay more than $10 million in damages over the death of Esther Nakajjigo, a . "We want you to know, on behalf of the United States, this accident and Essie's death was the responsibility of the United States," Nelson told Michaud. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. We dont know with any level of certainty what her plans were, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nelson said. They had wanted three children. Michaud hopes he and Nakajjigos family can continue her legacy. 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. "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 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 trial began in December and in court, per the AP, family attorney Randi McGinn reportedly argued Nakajjigo could have eventually brought in hundreds of thousands, if not millions, annually had she survived. "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. 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. 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 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. Donate to the newsroom now. By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's. Mr Michaud and Ms Nakajjigos family have filed a lawsuit in a US court accusing the National Park Service of negligence, Fox 13 reports. Estimated read time: 5-6 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. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5 million for Utah death - Los Angeles Times She was particularly passionate about reducing teenage pregnancy and created two reality television shows that empowered women. Recreation areas had recently opened after pandemic-era closures and . You wouldnt able to detect it or see it, she told Fox 13. All rights reserved. Here's what lawmakers have directed schools to do, Can't take statins? 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 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, a native of Uganda, accomplished more at age 25 than most do in a lifetime. Though the amount was substantially less than pursued, attorneys representing the family of Esther Nakajjigo celebrated the judgement . 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. "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. 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. The gate narrowly avoided Michaud, who was left covered head to toe in his wife's blood. Fox13 reports the metal. 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. 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. Nakajjigo married Denver man Ludovic Michaud in March 2020. 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. 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. For this work, the United Nations Population Fund gave her the Woman Achiever Award. The United States will pay more than $10 million in damages over the death of Esther Nakajjigo, a prominent . 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. 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US attorneys have said this claim was too speculative to be used as a basis for damages. At just 17, using her college tuition money, she created a nonprofit community health center. 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.". 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. I found her really interesting. "Because (Nakajjigo) is off the charts, you can't use the charts to evaluate her," McGinn said. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax The gruesome nature of Nakajjigos death and the fact that she was a renowned Ugandan womens rights activist drew widespread attention to the case. 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. Continuing her work brings him hope; he's already started a nonprofit in her name, the Esther Nakajjigo Foundation. Instead, Michaud met his wife's family -- who traveled to the States from Uganda -- for the first time just before the trial started. Nakajjigo was killed instantly. Nakajjigo was. 2023 EHM Productions, Inc. All rights reserved. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Her mother flew to Utah from Uganda to attend the trial this week. "I'll respond as soon as I'm able," Jenkins said. A lot of things remind me of her, Michaud told the Salt Lake Tribune. 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. Michaud, Nakajjigo's husband, spoke about the intense trauma he's endured since his wife's death, including sleeplessness, nightmares and suicidal ideation. 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 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. 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 . She was also awarded a full scholarship from the king of Buganda. On Monday, a federal judge ruled Ludovic Michaud, the husband of Esther Nakajjigo, will receive $9.5 million, while Nakajjigo's mother and father were awarded $700,000 and $350,000, respectively, per the Salt Lake Tribune. 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. 45 Join Insider . SALT LAKE CITY Ludovic "Ludo" Michaud has tortured himself with a lot of "what ifs?" Denver7's Lance Hernandez reports. Esther Nakajjigo (credit: Ludovic Michaud). SALT . 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.. 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. They said you have to lock it or its going to impale a car, so everyone knows, Chang said. 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. None. minutes. She was subsequently named Ugandas ambassador for women and girls. At age 17, Nakajjigo. 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. The amount was far less than the $140 million Nakajjigos family originally sought. mesurer votre utilisation de nos sites et applications. 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. Theres a newsletter that went out to all the parks and the National Park Service that warned of this decades ago. 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. 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 administrative claim is a legally required precursor to a lawsuit, which is expected to be filed in about six months. 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. He no longer has a TV in his apartment because the sight of any blood is triggering, he said. 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 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. 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 gate reportedly smashed through the side of the car and struck Nakajjigo . I really wanted to show her Arches, he told Fox 13. This is not the first time a tragedy like this has happened. 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. 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 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. 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.
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