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. Denver7's Lance Hernandez reports. They had a courthouse ceremony in March, with plans to throw a big wedding in Uganda once it was safe to travel again. 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 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 25-year-old human rights activist and newlywed wife. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death The same year, Nakajjigo was named Ugandas ambassador for women and girls. 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. 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.". She was named Ugandas ambassador for women and girls. It's really a full-time job," he said. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, was on a trip to the Utah park with her . Esther Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud at Arches National Park in eastern Utah. Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with 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. The amount was far less than the $140 million Nakajjigos family originally sought. Attorney Randi McGinn, representing Nakajjigos family, on Monday asked the family to leave when he described the death in gruesome detail. A newlywed Denver couple's road trip to Arches National Park in Utah this summer ended in . Elizabeth Chuck is a reporter for NBC News who focuses on health and mental health, particularly issues that affect women and children. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death The family says under federal park rules, similar gates should be secured, but the gate that struck Ms Nakajjigo had been unlatched for weeks, Fox 13 reports. You wouldnt able to detect it or see it, she told Fox 13. What if he hadn't suggested the trip to Arches? 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. I know all the parks around Moab Its one of my favourite places in the US, if not my favourite place.. 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. 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. She was also awarded a full scholarship from the king of Buganda. I found her really interesting. But now, Michaud said, he returns to an apartment that doesn't feel like a home. 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. Courtesy of. Nakajjigo, 25, was a Ugandan human rights activist and moved to Colorado in 2019 to attend the Watson Institute in Boulder. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death dvelopper et amliorer nos produits et services. What if he hadn't suggested the trip. One of his regrets is not saying, "I love you," one more time. 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 . Her mother flew to Utah from Uganda to attend the trial this week. The ruling was. minutes. 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. It claims three other people have died from similar incidents involving gates in the last 32 years. Denver Woman Decapitated By Gate: Family Files $270M - CBS News 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. He has since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and has struggled with flashbacks. 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Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death 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 . Itd be like me pointing a piece of paper to you on its most narrow side. Family of Ugandan Awarded $10.5M for Utah Park Death 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. Esther Nakajjigo, a 25-year-old Ugandan human rights activist, was killed in a horrific accident at Arches National Park on June 13, 2020. Ms Nakajjigos husband said his wifes death was the worst thing I hope I will ever see. 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. (Athea Trial Lawyers) Esther Nakajjigo is shown in this undated photo. 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. 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 Ugandan human rights activist killed in Arches National Park in 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. . 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. Esther Nakajjigo was killed at 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. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death The metal gate at Arches National Park, normally secured with a lock, was left untethered. But on June 13, she and her husband needed a break from quarantine and headed toward Arches National Park in Utah. 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. Activist, 25, hailed as 'future Oprah or Princess Diana' is Though the amount was substantially less than pursued, attorneys representing the family of Esther Nakajjigo celebrated the judgement . 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. 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 . The lawsuit alleges that a simple $8 padlock could have prevented the gate from swinging, and claims the park violated regulations. One series reportedly had a weekly audience of 6.3 million viewers. Later, his chin trembled as Nelson delivered the government's apology. The 25-year-old human rights activist and newlywed wife was killed on June 13, 2020, in Arches National Park. 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. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax Attorneys representing the U.S. commended her work, yet noted her most recent job was working at a restaurant making $15 per hour. The National Park Service did not respond to repeated inquiries from NBC News, nor did Arches National Park Chief Ranger Scott Brown. There is a lot of small things I miss.. "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 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. What happened during the 2023 Utah Legislature. At age 17, Nakajjigo was recognized by the United Nations for her work for women, according to the claim. US attorneys have said this claim was too speculative to be used as a basis for damages. The smaller projection takes into account only the averages of a statistical black woman, she said; while the higher projections factor in that Nakajjigo was a real, extraordinary person. This photo was taken in the hours before a gate swung into the couple's car, killing Nakajjigo. 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 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. Trial opens in death of woman killed by metal gate in Utah | wltx.com The suit was filed last. "I'll respond as soon as I'm able," Jenkins said. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death Jenkins awarded Michaud $9.5 million; Nakajjigos mother, Christine Namagembe, $700,000; and her father, John Bosco Kateregga, $350,000. 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. Courtesy Ludovic Michaud Nakajjigo. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. Posted at 10:15 PM, Nov 12, 2020 We hope that, in some way, the conclusion of this trial will help with your moving forward.". Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her. Its still hard to concentrate, but I try to.. Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her husband in Denver, where she moved to attend a leadership course on a full scholarship. 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 . 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 just 17, using her college tuition money, she created a nonprofit community health center. Family of Newlywed and Activist Decapitated at Utah's Arches National Diana Dasrath is entertainment producer and senior reporter for NBC News covering all platforms. They had wanted three children. 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. 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. Her husband, Michaud, is seeking $240 million in damages from the National Park Service, while Nakajjigo's family is seeking $30 million. All rights reserved. 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. November 12, 2020 / 2:34 PM Matthew McConaugheys wife was among the passengers on board a Lufthansa flight struck by severe turbulence and has described the chaos. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death National Park Service faces $270M wrongful death claim - USA TODAY "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. 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. "You bear no responsibility. Credit: AP FILE - Delicate. 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. Trial begins for woman decapitated at Arches National Park Esther We dont know with any level of certainty what her plans were, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nelson said. Esther Nakajjigo (credit: Ludovic Michaud). 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. 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 administrative claim is a legally required precursor to a lawsuit, which is expected to be filed in about six months. 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. 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. 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. Arches National Park is a 120-square-mile desert landscape near Moab, Utah, that is visited by more than 1.5 million people annually. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. They stipulate, however, that the plaintiffs should be awarded $22,508 for Nakajjigo's funeral expenses and $5,000 for Michaud's therapy expenses. Our mission is to make sure this doesnt happen again, the husband of Esther Nakajjigo told NBC News in an exclusive interview. You wouldnt able to detect it or see it.. The family of Esther Nakajjigo accused the National Park Service of negligence for not properly securing the metal gate that killed her. 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. I couldnt work properly for a couple of months. She was always willing to help, he said. A cruise employee has had his contract terminated after he was allegedly seen filming women from a female bathroom. Family of Ugandan activist who was decapitated at UT national park gets John Ssenkindu, Esther's brother, told journalists that her sister was hit by a metallic gate of the Arches National Park in the US . An activist's dreams 'were about to come true.' Then, a horrific 'Shadow pandemic': Women, girls bear unequal share of Covid-19 burden, U.N. official warns, National parks begin to reopen across the country. Nous, Yahoo, faisons partie de la famille de marques Yahoo. Esther Nakajjigo, a native of Uganda, accomplished more at age 25 than most do in a lifetime. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Trial begins two years after newlywed was beheaded by metal gate at 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. Nakajjigo was. Esther Nakajjigo and her husband were visiting the regions national parks months after their wedding. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5 million for Utah death - Los Angeles Times 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.. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Newlyweds Esther "Essie" Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud visited the park in mid June. Something went wrong, please try again later. 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. Si vous souhaitez personnaliser vos choix, cliquez sur Grer les paramtres de confidentialit. He noted she had recently worked as a host at a restaurant around the time of her death and didnt have a Bachelors degree. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death At age 17, Nakajjigo. 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. "On behalf of the United States, we again extend our condolences to Ms. Nakajjigos friends, family and beloved community. Fox13 reports the metal. FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. All times AEDT (GMT +11). 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. "Because (Nakajjigo) is off the charts, you can't use the charts to evaluate her," McGinn said. "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. 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. mesurer votre utilisation de nos sites et applications. Even simple tasks like cooking rice stored in a jar that Nakajjigo bought before her death feel paralyzing, he said. Donate to the newsroom now. Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her husband in Denver, where she moved to attend a leadership course on a full scholarship. Arches accidental beheading trial ends, but verdict is still pending 45 Join Insider . Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death FILE Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death When he inhaled the copper-tinged smell of blood, turned to figure out what it was and saw his beheaded wife. It impaled their car and decapitated Nakajjigo. He was "instantly covered with blood," the complaint says. 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. Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Judge Bruce Jenkins said he wants to "examine with care" all the information presented during the weeklong trial. Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludovic Michaud, were vacationing in eastern Utah, visiting the regions national parks months after their wedding. 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. 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. Sign up today. 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 family of a women's rights activist from Uganda has filed a $270 million administrative claim against the National Park Service after she was killed by an . Michaud was the last plaintiff witness in the civil trial over the June 13, 2020, death of his wife, Esther Nakajjigo. Family of newlywed woman 'DECAPITATED by metal gate' at Utah national 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. 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.. Testimony ends in trial of Ugandan woman decapitated in Arches National The gate had been left unlatched against federal policy for two weeks prior to the tragic accident in June 2020. Arches National Park Being Sued For $270M After Gate Decapitated Guest Esther Nakajjigo lost her life when she was decapitated at an entrance to Arches National Park in Utah back in June. Drenched in his wifes blood, Michaud instinctively jumped out of the slowly moving car after impact, then got back in to put it in park. Recreation areas had recently opened after pandemic-era closures and . 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. 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. The gate reportedly smashed through the side of the car and struck Nakajjigo . FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. The United States will pay more than $10 million in damages over the death of Esther Nakajjigo, a prominent . Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death 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. 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. Ludovic Michaud was driving around the scenic red rock landscapes of Utah's Arches National Park on a windy spring day in 2020 when something unthinkable happened: A metal gate whipped around,. What awaited them there was as awful as it was unthinkable. 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. Cruise staffer fired after shock bathroom act, Passengers injured as turbulence rocks plane. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. 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. The. Denver woman's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death He and his wife, Esther Nakajjigo, who had moved to Colorado from Uganda, went to Utah as a welcome break from being quarantined. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. But on Friday, U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nelson tried to give Michaud some peace of mind. (Athea Trial Lawyers) Esther Nakajjigo is shown in this undated photo. 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. 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. 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. 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.
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