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. I know all the parks around Moab Its one of my favourite places in the US, if not my favourite place.. 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. A lot of things remind me of her, Michaud told the. 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. One of his regrets is not saying, "I love you," one more time. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax Chang expects to file the lawsuit in about six months. 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. 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. mesurer votre utilisation de nos sites et applications. Seven people have been rushed to hospital after severe turbulence on a flight led to an emergency landing. Attorneys representing the U.S. commended her work, yet noted her most recent job was working at a restaurant making $15 per hour. 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. 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, who was 25, lived with her husband in Denver, where she moved to attend a leadership course on a full scholarship. 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. 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.. 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. Nakajjigo donated her own college fund to start a hospital, Berndt said; she raised money for charities and never took a salary. 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 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. 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. Judge Bruce Jenkins said he wants to "examine with care" all the information presented during the weeklong trial. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Arches National Park is a 120-square-mile desert landscape near Moab, Utah, that is visited by more than 1.5 million people annually. The metal gate at Arches National Park, normally secured with a lock, was left untethered. 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. Throughout the trial, attorneys debated estimates of Nakajjigos earnings potential. The. IE 11 is not supported. FILE Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. 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. The family are arguing that the US Park Service was negligent and did not properly maintain the gates at the entrances and exits to the parks, leading to their loved one's death. At age 17, Nakajjigo. Nakajjigo's family sued the government for the largest federal award ever asked for in both state and national history, according to plaintiffs' attorney Randi McGinn, seeking $140 million in damages. 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. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. 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. 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. (Julie Jacobson | AP file photo) A Denver man has filed a $270 million wrongful death claim, a precursor to a lawsuit, against the National Park Service after a metal gate at Arches National Park collided collided with his car on June 13, killing his wife. 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,. The ruling was. The United Nations Population Fund awarded her a Woman Achiever Award," the claim states. Nakajjigo had been celebrated for using money earmarked for her college tuition to instead open a nonprofit community health center in Uganda at age 17. Esther Nakajjigo, a 25-year-old Ugandan human rights activist, was killed in a horrific accident at Arches National Park on June 13, 2020. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Itd be like me pointing a piece of paper to you on its most narrow side. FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. 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. Outside's long reads email newsletter features our strongest writing, most ambitious reporting, and award-winning storytelling about the outdoors. 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. None. The United States will pay more than $10 million in damages over the death of Esther Nakajjigo, a . "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 family of a young woman who was killed by a swinging gate at Arches National Park has sued the park service over her death. 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. 72 Join Insider . 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. Michaud was not injured in the accident, but he was covered head-to-toe in his wifes blood. 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. National parks begin to reopen across the country. 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. afficher des publicits et des contenus personnaliss en fonction de vos profils de centres dintrt; mesurer lefficacit des publicits et contenus personnaliss; et. Jenkins awarded Michaud $9.5 million; Nakajjigos mother, Christine Namagembe, $700,000; and her father, John Bosco Kateregga, $350,000. US attorneys have said this claim was too speculative to be used as a basis for damages. 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. A cruise employee has had his contract terminated after he was allegedly seen filming women from a female bathroom. 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. Esther Nakajjigo, a 25-year-old Ugandan human rights activist, was killed in a horrific accident at Arches National Park on June 13, 2020. First published on November 12, 2020 / 2:34 PM. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, was on a trip to the Utah park with her . Michaud's wife, Esther Nakajjigo, 25, was a celebrated human rights activist in her home country of Uganda. 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. It impaled their car and decapitated Nakajjigo. "Because (Nakajjigo) is off the charts, you can't use the charts to evaluate her," McGinn 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. "On behalf of the United States, we again extend our condolences to Ms. Nakajjigos friends, family and beloved community. 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. Nakajjigo was decapitated after wind swung an untethered metal gate into her . (Athea Trial Lawyers) Esther Nakajjigo is shown in this undated photo. 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. 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 . FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. Our mission is to make sure this doesnt happen again, Michaud said. 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. She was particularly passionate about reducing teenage pregnancy and created two reality television shows that empowered women. Our mission is to make sure this doesnt happen again, the husband of Esther Nakajjigo told NBC News in an exclusive interview. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. 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. You wouldnt able to detect it or see it.. Matthew McConaugheys wife was among the passengers on board a Lufthansa flight struck by severe turbulence and has described the chaos. 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. What if he hadn't suggested the trip. "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. 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. He and his wife, Esther Nakajjigo, who had moved to Colorado from Uganda, went to Utah as a welcome break from being quarantined. She met Michaud on Tinder in 2019, when she was attending a leadership program in Boulder, Colorado. SALT LAKE CITY Ludovic "Ludo" Michaud has tortured himself with a lot of "what ifs?" 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). Esther Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud at Arches National Park in eastern Utah. SALT . 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. They were driving toward the exit when suddenly a gust of wind lifted a metal gate and the arm swung into the roadway. All times AEDT (GMT +11). 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 family of Ugandan philanthropist Esther Nakajjigo, who was decapitated by a traffic gate in front of her husband in Arches National Park in Utah, has been awarded $10.5m. He no longer has a TV in his apartment because the sight of any blood is triggering, he said. During the trials opening statements in December, Nakajjigo was described as a pearl beyond price with limitless potential. Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her. 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. "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. Esther Nakajjigo was killed at Arches National Park in 2020. 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. He noted she had recently worked as a host at a restaurant around the time of her death and didnt have a Bachelors degree. Denver7's Lance Hernandez reports. 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. On Monday, a federal judge in Utah ruled that the U.S. government must pay her family more than $10 million in damages. 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 United States will pay more than $10 million in damages over the death of Esther Nakajjigo, a prominent . Nakajjigo, who went by Essie, was a womens rights champion in Uganda. 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.". Later, his chin trembled as Nelson delivered the government's apology. 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 25-year-old human rights activist and newlywed wife was killed on June 13, 2020, in Arches National Park. In their legal complaint, Michaud and Nakajjigos parents said the National Park Service was negligent for not maintaining the gate. Newlyweds Esther "Essie" Nakajjigo, 25, and Ludovic "Ludo" Michaud, 26, were driving to get ice cream during a camping trip June 13 when a metal gate blew closed in strong winds and sliced . Esther Nakajjigo (credit: Ludovic Michaud). Estimated read time: 5-6 Something went wrong, please try again later. She later created a pair of reality television shows designed to empower women. In his judgement, Jenkins said the government had provided a more reasonable projection of Nakajjigos earnings potential. I felt completely meaningless after losing Nakajjigo, he said. "For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good," the claim continues. (Athea Trial Lawyers) Esther Nakajjigo is shown in this undated photo. 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. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. At age 17, Nakajjigo was recognized by the United Nations for her work for women, according to the claim. A lot of things remind me of her, Michaud told the Salt Lake Tribune. The gate narrowly avoided Michaud, who was left covered head to toe in his wife's blood. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. 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.