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 was born in poverty in Kampala, Uganda, and rose to become a celebrated human rights activist through her work focusing on preventing teen pregnancy. Mail that Nakajjigo has continued to receive after her death has been a stark reminder of the life they should still be enjoying together. 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 . 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. 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. Nakajjigo was killed instantly. Attorneys for the government have not disputed that park officials are at fault but instead have disputed how much the family should be awarded. What if he hadn't suggested the trip. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. 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.". 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. The ongoing trial will largely focus on determining the damages that may go to her family and Michaud. Updated: Jan 31, 2023 / 03:49 PM MST. Michaud was the last plaintiff witness in the civil trial over the June 13, 2020, death of his wife, Esther Nakajjigo. On Monday, a federal judge in Utah ruled that the. Additionally, Berndt said the plaintiffs can only speculate on what Nakajjigo might have done had she lived, and the court can't ignore that "in favor of dreams and potential.". The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who was driving. Lindsay Whitehurst/AP Recreation areas had recently opened after pandemic-era closures and . Esther Nakajjigo (credit: Ludovic Michaud). Esther Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud at Arches National Park in eastern Utah. 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 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. 2023 EHM Productions, Inc. All rights reserved. Join Outside+ to get Outside magazine, access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. She was named Ugandas ambassador for women and girls. 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. Fox13 reports the metal. 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. 45 Join Insider . Here's what lawmakers have directed schools to do, Can't take statins? 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. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. IE 11 is not supported. The amount was far less than the $140 million Nakajjigos family originally sought. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. 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. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. 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, who went by Essie, was a womens rights champion in Uganda. The last thing she said to him was, "Babe, I had the best time of my life." 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. I found her really interesting. 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. 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 and her husband Ludovic Michaud were vacationing in eastern Utah, visiting the region's national parks months after their wedding. 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. "You bear no responsibility. 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. At age 17, Nakajjigo. 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. 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. A lot of things remind me of her, Michaud told the Salt Lake Tribune. Esther Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludovic Michaud, pose at Arches National Park on June 13, 2020. 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. What if he hadn't suggested the trip to Arches? It's really a full-time job," he said. In their legal complaint, Michaud and Nakajjigos parents said the National Park Service was negligent for not maintaining the gate. Posted at 10:15 PM, Nov 12, 2020 There is a lot of small things I miss.. 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.. What awaited them there was as awful as it was unthinkable. They said you have to lock it or its going to impale a car, so everyone knows, Chang said. 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. The family of Esther Nakajjigo accused the National Park Service of negligence for not properly securing the metal gate that killed her. "I'm doing whatever I can to get better. The National Park Service did not respond to repeated inquiries from NBC News, nor did Arches National Park Chief Ranger Scott Brown. The gate had been left unlatched against federal policy for two weeks prior to the tragic accident in June 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 Burglar freezes at top of ladder after being caught stealing from attic during raid, 'I DIDN'T BREAK THE LAW' Matt Hancock tells lawyers he wants immunity on care home deaths during Covid pandemic, Interactive map shows exactly where snow could fall in UK as mercury nosedives to -7C, Doctor tells Harry he believes Prince has Attention Deficit Disorder in live Q&A, Kate Garraway shares Derek's final words as he believed he was about to die, Spencer Matthews 'furious' after Disney delays Everest doc as it shows dead bodies, Prince Harry insists he is 'NOT victim' and has never looked for sympathy in livestream Q&A with controversial 'toxic trauma' doctor, Cyclist pavement killer risks losing home as neighbours break silence, DIY SOS star Nick Knowles fires back as he's FAT SHAMED by 83 year old mum, Saturday Night Takeaway fans complain minutes into show at Ant and Dec's 'suspicious' habit, Cher, 76, shares candid update on relationship with 37-year-old boyfriend, Moment sonic boom 'like a gas explosion' shakes homes as RAF Typhoon aircraft scrambled, Inside Alison King's 50th birthday party as Corrie co-stars glam up to celebrate, Subscribe to Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror newspapers. Get Toofab breaking news sent right to your browser! Judge Bruce Jenkins said he wants to "examine with care" all the information presented during the weeklong trial. Her dreams were just about to come true, Chang said. 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. Something went wrong, please try again later. One series reportedly had a weekly audience of 6.3 million viewers. The lawsuit alleges that a simple $8 padlock could have prevented the gate from swinging, and claims the park violated regulations. 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. 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 his ten-page verdict, U.S. District Court Judge Bruce Jenkins said the government admitted fault and apologized for Nakajjigos death. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. New pill cuts cholesterol, heart attacks, Suspect in Dylan Rounds disappearance charged with murder. SALT LAKE CITY Ludovic "Ludo" Michaud has tortured himself with a lot of "what ifs?" 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. Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludovic Michaud, were vacationing in eastern Utah, visiting the regions national parks months after their wedding. 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. This photo was taken in the hours before a gate swung into the couple's car, killing Nakajjigo. 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. In court, Michaud described his relationship with Nakajjigo as the best time of his life., It feels lonely, and thats hard. 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 same year, Nakajjigo was named Ugandas ambassador for women and girls. 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 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.". afficher des publicits et des contenus personnaliss en fonction de vos profils de centres dintrt; mesurer lefficacit des publicits et contenus personnaliss; et. All rights reserved. Nakajjigo was. Nakajjigo also created a reality television show in Uganda focused on helping teenage mothers stay in school and learn life skills. 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. Denver7's Lance Hernandez reports. 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. At age 17, Nakajjigo was recognized by the United Nations for her work for women, according to the claim. In their legal complaint, Michaud and Nakajjigos parents said the National Park Service was negligent for not maintaining the gate. The metal gate at Arches National Park, normally secured with a lock, was left untethered. "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. Credit: AP FILE - Delicate. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. 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 25-year-old human rights activist and newlywed wife was killed on June 13, 2020, in Arches National Park. They stipulate, however, that the plaintiffs should be awarded $22,508 for Nakajjigo's funeral expenses and $5,000 for Michaud's therapy expenses. Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her husband in Denver, where she moved to attend a leadership course on a full scholarship. "For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good," the claim continues. For this work, the United Nations Population Fund gave her the Woman Achiever Award. 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. I felt completely meaningless after losing Nakajjigo, he said. FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. Nous, Yahoo, faisons partie de la famille de marques Yahoo. 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. 72 Join Insider . 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. 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. Michaud's wife, Esther Nakajjigo, 25, was a celebrated human rights activist in her home country of Uganda. I didnt know who she was at first, Michaud, 26, told NBC News in his first interview since Nakajjigos death. 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. Diana Dasrath is entertainment producer and senior reporter for NBC News covering all platforms. Nakajjigos remains were flown back to Uganda in August. According to the official statement from Wilson Jaga, the communications head for the office of the Ugandan Women and Girls, Nakajjigo was hit by a metallic gate of the Arches National Park due. He noted she had recently worked as a host at a restaurant around the time of her death and didnt have a Bachelors degree. Picture: Handout The family of a women's 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. Nakajjigo married Denver man Ludovic Michaud in March 2020. Esther Nakajjigo's horrified husband was driving when a metal gate was whipped round in the wind and cut into the car where she was sitting and beheading her in Arches National Park in Utah, US. 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. I really wanted to show her Arches, he told Fox 13. 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. Elizabeth Chuck is a reporter for NBC News who focuses on health and mental health, particularly issues that affect women and children. Arches National Park is a 120-square-mile desert landscape near Moab, Utah, that is visited by more than 1.5 million people annually. She was subsequently named Ugandas ambassador for women and girls. Attorneys representing the U.S. commended her work, yet noted her most recent job was working at a restaurant making $15 per hour. 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 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. 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. 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. 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 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. 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 . 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 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. 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. The claim, served Oct. 22, is seeking more than $270 million in damages from the National Park Service. 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. (Athea Trial Lawyers) Esther Nakajjigo is shown in this undated photo. 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.

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