Michaud was not injured in the accident, but he was covered head-to-toe in his wifes blood. They had wanted three children. I really wanted to show her Arches, he told Fox 13. Berndt also said her team can take into account only Nakajjigo's education and earning history at the time of her death, exclusive from the money she raised for charitable organizations. 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. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, was driving around the stunning Arches National Park in Utah, US, in 2020 along with her husband Ludovic Michaud when the unthinkable happened. Chang expects to file the lawsuit in about six months. Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her. US attorneys have said this claim was too speculative to be used as a basis for damages. Esther "Essie" Nakajjigo's husband and parents initially filed a $270 million claim against the National Park Service in 2021 over her death Attorneys representing the U.S. commended her work, yet noted her most recent job was working at a restaurant making $15 per hour. 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 . 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. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. Mail that Nakajjigo has continued to receive after her death has been a stark reminder of the life they should still be enjoying together. 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.". 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. 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 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.. 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 United States will pay more than $10 million in damages over the death of Esther Nakajjigo, a . In his judgement, Jenkins said the government had provided a more reasonable projection of Nakajjigos earnings potential. National Park Service faces $270M wrongful death claim - USA TODAY Nakajjigo also created a reality television show in Uganda focused on helping teenage mothers stay in school and learn life skills. 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. It feels lonely, and thats hard. Nakajjigo donated her own college fund to start a hospital, Berndt said; she raised money for charities and never took a salary. 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. But on June 13, she and her husband needed a break from quarantine and headed toward Arches National Park in Utah. 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. IE 11 is not supported. Theres a newsletter that went out to all the parks and the National Park Service that warned of this decades ago. 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. "For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good," the claim continues. Courtesy Ludovic Michaud Nakajjigo. For this work, the United Nations Population Fund gave her the Woman Achiever Award. 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. $140M trial begins over death of Ugandan woman killed in Utah park 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. Recreation areas had recently opened after pandemic-era closures and . Denver man files suit after wife's death at National Park - KMGH The United States will pay more than $10 million in damages over the death of Esther Nakajjigo, a prominent Ugandan human rights activist killed in Arches National Park in 2020. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5 million for Utah death - Los 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. By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's. Arches National Park is a 120-square-mile desert landscape near Moab, Utah, that is visited by more than 1.5 million people annually. Nakajjigos remains were flown back to Uganda in August. None. In opening statements Monday in Salt Lake City, their attorneys said they were seeking $140 million (115m) in damages from the government accounting for Esther's earning potential. For this work, the United Nations Population Fund gave her the Woman Achiever Award. The claim, served Oct. 22, is seeking more than $270 million in damages from the National Park Service. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death 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. During the trials opening statements in December, Nakajjigo was described as a pearl beyond price with limitless potential, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Family of Ugandan activist who was decapitated at UT national park gets Denver woman killed during visit to Arches National Park The 25-year-old human rights activist and newlywed wife. Nakajjigo was decapitated after wind swung an untethered metal gate into her . 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. Later, his chin trembled as Nelson delivered the government's apology. Nakajjigo married Denver man Ludovic Michaud in March 2020. In court, Michaud described his relationship with Nakajjigo as the best time of his life., It feels lonely, and thats hard. Nous, Yahoo, faisons partie de la famille de marques Yahoo. The National Park Service has not commented in relation to the new lawsuit but has previously released a statement expressing sympathy for the young womans death. 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. Denver woman's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death Michaud was the last plaintiff witness in the civil trial over the June 13, 2020, death of his wife, Esther Nakajjigo. Updated: Jan 31, 2023 / 03:49 PM MST. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. ", 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 head off, according to a wrongful death administrative claim obtained by NBC News. Something went wrong, please try again later. SALT . It's really a full-time job," he said. 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. $10.5 million awarded to family of Denver woman killed at Arches Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death In their legal complaint, Michaud and Nakajjigos parents said the National Park Service was negligent for not maintaining the gate. Estimated read time: 5-6 Its still hard to concentrate, but I try to.. 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. Family awarded $10.5M in Utah park death | Las Vegas Review-Journal Trial begins in civil suit filed for accidental beheading death at Arches, National Park Service faces $270M wrongful death claim for death at Arches, 6 people arrested following drive-by shooting in Iron County, Man struck, killed by FrontRunner in Clearfield, Legislative wrap: Under-the-radar bills you may have missed on the last day of the session, Northern Utah man faces 30 felonies in child pornography case, 15-year-old boy dies after being found in crashed car with gunshot wounds, Pennsylvania unseals more court document details in Idaho killings, Provo River diverted as restoration project reaches 'major milestone', 1 killed when business jet encounters severe turbulence, Do not 'push a slower friend down' if you encounter a bear, National Park Service warns, CDC issues advisory after confirmed measles case in Kentucky, Police say man killed by Farmington officers had gun; victim's mom filed suit over other traffic stop, 27% of Utah students are chronically absent. Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her husband in Denver, where she moved to attend a leadership course on a full scholarship. 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.". All rights reserved. IE 11 is not supported. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, was on a trip to the Utah park with her . All times AEDT (GMT +11). The United Nations Population Fund awarded her a Woman Achiever Award," the claim states. The newly married Michaud and Nakajjigo took a weekend trip to Arches National Park as a welcome break after months of lockdown amid the pandemic, court documents said. Attorneys for the government have not disputed that park officials are at fault but instead have disputed how much the family should be awarded. She met Michaud on Tinder in 2019, when she was attending a leadership program in Boulder, Colorado. 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. 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. Cruise staffer fired after shock bathroom act, Passengers injured as turbulence rocks plane. 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. All rights reserved. The same year, Nakajjigo was named Ugandas ambassador for women and girls. 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. 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. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. 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. 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. (Athea Trial Lawyers) Esther Nakajjigo is shown in this undated photo. He was "instantly covered with blood," the complaint says. 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. We hope that, in some way, the conclusion of this trial will help with your moving forward.". Family of Newlywed and Activist Decapitated at Utah's Arches National Esther Nakajjigo had been visiting Utah's Arches National Park when she was killed by a gate caught in the wind. Instead, the Utah park became the site of a horrific accident that killed her. Here's what lawmakers have directed schools to do, Can't take statins? Nakajjigo was a women's rights champion in her home country of Uganda; she founded a nonprofit community health center using her college tuition money, and created two reality TV shows centered around empowering women. John Ssenkindu, Esther's brother, told journalists that her sister was hit by a metallic gate of the Arches National Park in the US . 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. 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. Nakajjigo created a reality TV show that helped child mothers stay in school and develop life skills, according to The Denver Post. Sign up today. 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. Esther Nakajjigo, a 25-year-old Ugandan human rights activist, was killed in a horrific accident at Arches National Park on June 13, 2020. FILE Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. 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. 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 National Park Service did not respond to repeated inquiries from NBC News, nor did Arches National Park Chief Ranger Scott Brown. Esther Nakajjigo was killed at Arches National Park in 2020. Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who was driving. 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 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. She later created a pair of reality television shows designed to empower women. Family sues after newlywed is killed by gate at Arches park Throughout the trial, attorneys debated estimates of Nakajjigos earnings potential. 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 claim she served is legally required before a lawsuit can be filed in court. She was always willing to help, he said. 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. "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. 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. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death Nakajjigo was killed instantly. Our mission is to make sure this doesnt happen again, the husband of Esther Nakajjigo told NBC News in an exclusive interview. Nakajjigo received numerous international accolades and awards and 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, Colorado, where she was the recipient of a Luff Peace Fellowship. The. 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 . Continuing her work brings him hope; he's already started a nonprofit in her name, the Esther Nakajjigo Foundation. 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. Trial opens in death of woman killed by metal gate in Utah | wltx.com FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. 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. Esther Nakajjigo was a prominent Ugandan human rights activist who was killed in Utah's Arches National Park in 2020.

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