FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. 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. 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. 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 Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax 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. 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. All this building towards the $140million in damages. Our mission is to make sure this doesnt happen again, the husband of Esther Nakajjigo told NBC News in an exclusive interview. 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.. 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. Her husband, Michaud, is seeking $240 million in damages from the National Park Service, while Nakajjigo's family is seeking $30 million. 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. 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. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Attorneys for the government have not disputed that park officials are at fault but instead have disputed how much the family should be awarded. I felt completely meaningless after losing Nakajjigo, he said. 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. 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.. Elizabeth Chuck is a reporter for NBC News who focuses on health and mental health, particularly issues that affect women and children. IE 11 is not supported. A cruise employee has had his contract terminated after he was allegedly seen filming women from a female bathroom. The 25-year-old human rights activist and newlywed wife. 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. A newlywed Denver couple's road trip to Arches National Park in Utah this summer ended in . The gate reportedly smashed through the side of the car and struck Nakajjigo . What happened during the 2023 Utah Legislature. 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. 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. Everything reminds Michaud of Nakajjigo. The National Park Service did not respond to repeated inquiries from NBC News, nor did Arches National Park Chief Ranger Scott Brown. 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 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.. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. Denver7's Lance Hernandez reports. At just 17, using her college tuition money, she created a nonprofit community health center. Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Esther Nakajjigo was beheaded after the wind whipped a metal gate round cutting into the passenger side of the car, Esther Nakajjigo with her husband Ludovic Michaud, A picture of the gates that led to the young woman's death. FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. Instead, the Utah park became the site of a horrific accident that killed her. Nakajjigo created a reality TV show that helped child mothers stay in school and develop life skills, according to The Denver Post. Nakajjigo, 25, was a Ugandan human rights activist and moved to Colorado in 2019 to attend the Watson Institute in Boulder. The United States will pay more than $10 million in damages over the death of Esther Nakajjigo, a prominent . The wind whipped a metal gate round which sliced through the passenger door of the car and decapitated Esther. 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. 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. For this work, the United Nations Population Fund gave her the Woman Achiever Award. Credit: AP FILE - Delicate. "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. All rights reserved. Recreation areas had recently opened after pandemic-era closures and . They had a courthouse ceremony in March, with plans to throw a big wedding in Uganda once it was safe to travel again. 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. Sign up today. Theres a newsletter that went out to all the parks and the National Park Service that warned of this decades ago. She was named Ugandas ambassador for women and girls. Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her. The end of that trial came Monday, but a verdict is still pending. The U.S. government has admitted responsibility for Nakajjigos death and for the emotional distress inflicted upon her husband, an attorney for the plaintiffs said. Esther Nakajjigo, a 25-year-old Ugandan human rights activist, was killed in a horrific accident at Arches National Park on June 13, 2020. 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. One time it was the delivery of her Social Security card; another time, an update on her immigration status. The claim she served is legally required before a lawsuit can be filed in court. 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. 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 Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax Michaud was the last plaintiff witness in the civil trial over the June 13, 2020, death of his wife, Esther Nakajjigo. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. At age 17, Nakajjigo was recognized by the United Nations for her work for women, according to the claim. 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. 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.. One, Saving Innocence, depicted teenage girls from urban areas helping teen moms in rural communities go back to school. 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. 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 . "I'll respond as soon as I'm able," Jenkins said. 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. Michaud was not injured in the accident, but he was covered head-to-toe in his wifes blood. 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. 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. 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. Her dreams were just about to come true, Chang said. 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 United States will pay more than $10 million in damages over the death of Esther Nakajjigo, a . Attorney Randi McGinn, representing Nakajjigos family, on Monday asked the family to leave when he described the death in gruesome detail. 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. We hope that, in some way, the conclusion of this trial will help with your moving forward.". 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. 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. Cruise staffer fired after shock bathroom act, Passengers injured as turbulence rocks plane. Esther Nakajjigo (credit: Ludovic Michaud). IE 11 is not supported. 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). The administrative claim is a legally required precursor to a lawsuit, which is expected to be filed in about six months. Esther Nakajjigo was killed at Arches National Park in 2020. 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. 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. 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. (Athea Trial Lawyers) Esther Nakajjigo is shown in this undated photo. Itd be like me pointing a piece of paper to you on its most narrow side. 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 . Nakajjigo was. 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 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. The lawsuit filed by Ludovic Michaud, of Denver, claims his wife Esther Nakajjigo was decapitated while in the passenger seat of a car exiting Arches National Park. They had wanted three children. 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. 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Newlyweds Esther "Essie" Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud visited the park in mid June. She was always willing to help, he said. Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her. Vous pouvez modifier vos choix tout moment en cliquant sur le lien Tableau de bord sur la vie prive prsent sur nos sites et dans nos applications. "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 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. She was particularly passionate about reducing teenage pregnancy and created two reality television shows that empowered women. 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 and Ludovic Michaud at Arches National Park in eastern Utah in the hours before a gate swung into the couple's car, killing Nakajjigo. This photo was taken in the hours before a gate swung into the couple's car, killing Nakajjigo. New pill cuts cholesterol, heart attacks, Suspect in Dylan Rounds disappearance charged with murder. What awaited them there was as awful as it was unthinkable. Esther Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud at Arches National Park in eastern Utah. The family of a womens rights activist who was killed in a gruesome accident at a national park is suing a US agency over her tragic death. 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. Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludovic Michaud, were vacationing in eastern Utah, visiting the regions national parks months after their wedding. 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. Estimated read time: 5-6 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. 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. It feels lonely, and thats hard. 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. "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 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 (credit: Ludovic Michaud) Nakajjigo, 25, was a Ugandan human rights activist and moved to Colorado in 2019 to attend the Watson Institute in Boulder. 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. Courtesy Ludovic Michaud Nakajjigo. 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. I couldnt work properly for a couple of months. All rights reserved. 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 was decapitated after wind swung an untethered metal gate into her . Her mother flew to Utah from Uganda to attend the trial this week. November 12, 2020 / 2:34 PM Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Because neither the U.S. nor Nakajjigos family disputed the facts of the case, the civil suit focused largely on the amount of damages merited. But on June 13, she and her husband needed a break from quarantine and headed toward Arches National Park in Utah. McGinn argued that the smaller projections were based on categories of evaluation not allowed for under Utah law. Join Outside+ to get Outside magazine, access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. Si vous souhaitez personnaliser vos choix, cliquez sur Grer les paramtres de confidentialit. 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. 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. 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. Its a fear of erasing her, I guess, when you use something that she bought or that she ate or that we did together.. Michaud, Nakajjigo's husband, spoke about the intense trauma he's endured since his wife's death, including sleeplessness, nightmares and suicidal ideation. Seven people have been rushed to hospital after severe turbulence on a flight led to an emergency landing. What if they had gone on a different day, or left at a different time? I really wanted to show her Arches, he told Fox 13. He smiled at some points as he shared photos and memories of happier times affectionate birthday cards, silly nicknames, meals cooked together, the rose petals Nakajjigo arranged into the shape of a heart with an "I" and a "U" on either side. 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. 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. In court, Michaud described his relationship with Nakajjigo as the best time of his life., It feels lonely, and thats hard. 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. According to the claim, Michaud, of Denver, and Nakajjigo, a womens rights proponent from Uganda, were exiting the Arches parking lot on June 13 when a metal gate on the entrance road near the visitors center swung into the couples car, causing Nakajigo to be needlessly decapitated.. Ms Nakajjigos husband said his wifes death was the worst thing I hope I will ever see. Nakajjigo, who went by Essie, was a womens rights champion in Uganda. 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. Get Toofab breaking news sent right to your browser! She was also awarded a full scholarship from the king of Buganda. Its known for a series of sculpture-like fins and arches made of an orange sandstone that wind and water have eroded for centuries. On Monday, a federal judge in Utah ruled that the. 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. 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. Nakajjigo donated her own college fund to start a hospital, Berndt said; she raised money for charities and never took a salary. 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. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. At age 17, Nakajjigo. Esther "Essie" Nakajjigo's husband and parents initially filed a $270 million claim against the National Park Service in 2021 over her death In their legal complaint, Michaud and Nakajjigos parents said the National Park Service was negligent for not maintaining the gate. Later, his chin trembled as Nelson delivered the government's apology. In the opening statements of the wrongful death lawsuit, attorneys representing Michaud and Nakajjigos family recounted the moment Michaud realised his wife had been killed. NBC wrote that Nakajjigo 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, Colo., where she was the recipient of a Luff Peace Fellowship., Michaud, originally of France, was uninjured in the accident, but, according to NBCs report, has since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder., Donate to the newsroom now. 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 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. 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. Attorneys representing the U.S. commended her work, yet noted her most recent job was working at a restaurant making $15 per hour. 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. They were driving toward the exit when suddenly a gust of wind lifted a metal gate and the arm swung into the roadway. Michaud's wife, Esther Nakajjigo, 25, was a celebrated human rights activist in her home country of Uganda. Esther Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludovic Michaud, pose at Arches National Park on June 13, 2020. Courtesy of. John Ssenkindu, Esther's brother, told journalists that her sister was hit by a metallic gate of the Arches National Park in the US . For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Photo: Esther Nakajjigo/Twitter. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her husband in Denver, where she moved to attend a leadership course on a full scholarship. By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's. 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. 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. They said you have to lock it or its going to impale a car, so everyone knows, Chang said. "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. You wouldnt able to detect it or see it, she told Fox 13. 2023 EHM Productions, Inc. All rights reserved. None. 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. The gruesome nature of Nakajjigos death and the fact that she was a renowned Ugandan womens rights activist drew widespread attention to the case. Though the amount was substantially less than pursued, attorneys representing the family of Esther Nakajjigo celebrated the judgement, [] A lot of things remind me of her, Michaud told the. Here's what lawmakers have directed schools to do, Can't take statins? The. I know all the parks around Moab Its one of my favourite places in the US, if not my favourite place.. When she was 17, she donated her university tuition money to start a private, nonprofit community health center that she named the Princess Diana Health Centre. 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. The ongoing trial will largely focus on determining the damages that may go to her family and Michaud. 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. 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 25-year-old human rights activist and newlywed wife was killed on June 13, 2020, in Arches National Park. One of his regrets is not saying, "I love you," one more time. Esther Nakajjigo, a native of Uganda, accomplished more at age 25 than most do in a lifetime.
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