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 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. Her husband, Michaud, is seeking $240 million in damages from the National Park Service, while Nakajjigo's family is seeking $30 million. Esther Nakajjigo (credit: Ludovic Michaud). All this building towards the $140million in damages. He noted she had recently worked as a host at a restaurant around the time of her death and didnt have a Bachelors degree. 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 (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. Instead, "the end of the lance-like gate pierced the side of their car and penetrated it like a hot knife through butter." 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. Our mission is to make sure this doesnt happen again, the husband of Esther Nakajjigo told NBC News in an exclusive interview. 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. Nous, Yahoo, faisons partie de la famille de marques Yahoo. 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. / CBS Colorado. At other points, he dabbed at his eyes; he lived like a student before meeting Nakajjigo, he said, but she turned their apartment into a home. 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. "This act of selflessness went viral throughout Uganda, and she was featured in numerous magazines and news publications. 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 gruesome nature of Nakajjigos death and the fact that she was a renowned Ugandan womens rights activist drew widespread attention to the case. The family of Esther Nakajjigo accused the National Park Service of negligence for not properly securing the metal gate that killed her. The United States will pay more than $10 million in damages over the death of Esther Nakajjigo, a . 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 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. Michaud was the last plaintiff witness in the civil trial over the June 13, 2020, death of his wife, Esther Nakajjigo. Michaud, Nakajjigo's husband, spoke about the intense trauma he's endured since his wife's death, including sleeplessness, nightmares and suicidal ideation. Theres a newsletter that went out to all the parks and the National Park Service that warned of this decades ago. One of his regrets is not saying, "I love you," one more time. Get Toofab breaking news sent right to your browser! In their legal complaint, Michaud and Nakajjigos parents said the National Park Service was negligent for not maintaining the gate. It alleges that if park employees had properly installed the gate to not swing into oncoming traffic or placed an $8 padlock on the gate to secure it from moving in the breeze, the world would not have lost a young woman influencer destined to become our societys future Princess Diana, Philanthropist Melinda Gates, or Oprah Winfrey.. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5 million for Utah death - Los 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. A cruise employee has had his contract terminated after he was allegedly seen filming women from a female bathroom. 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 . 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. ", 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. McGinn argued that the smaller projections were based on categories of evaluation not allowed for under Utah law. 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. But now, Michaud said, he returns to an apartment that doesn't feel like a home. Trial begins over death of Ugandan woman killed in Utah park 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. She was always willing to help, he said. 'Shadow pandemic': Women, girls bear unequal share of Covid-19 burden, U.N. official warns, National parks begin to reopen across the country. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death I didnt know who she was at first, Michaud, 26, told NBC News in his first interview since Nakajjigos death. 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. At just 17, using her college tuition money, she created a nonprofit community health center. Family of woman decapitated in Utah national park by swinging gate to 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 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. 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. "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 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. Sign up today. The ongoing trial will largely focus on determining the damages that may go to her family and Michaud. Instead, the Utah park became the site of a horrific accident that killed her. In court, Michaud described his relationship with Nakajjigo as the best time of his life., It feels lonely, and thats hard. 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. 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 . 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. Itd be like me pointing a piece of paper to you on its most narrow side. The same year, Nakajjigo was named Ugandas ambassador for women and girls. Family of Newlywed and Activist Decapitated at Utah's Arches National Ms Nakajjigo worked to improve education and rights for women and teenage girls in her home country of Uganda and advocated to reduce rates of teenage pregnancy. 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.". 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. Family of Woman Killed at Arches National Park Awarded $10.5M 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. The ruling was. 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.. "I'll respond as soon as I'm able," Jenkins said. 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 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. We dont know with any level of certainty what her plans were, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nelson said. 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. FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. 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. minutes. Nakajjigo was. Continuing her work brings him hope; he's already started a nonprofit in her name, the Esther Nakajjigo Foundation. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Esther Nakajjigo, a native of Uganda, accomplished more at age 25 than most do in a lifetime. By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's. 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. 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 . She was subsequently named Ugandas ambassador for women and girls. 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. Lindsay Whitehurst/AP Esther Nakajjigo lost her life when she was decapitated at an entrance to Arches National Park in Utah back in June. 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. Join Outside+ to get Outside magazine, access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. 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. 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 a prominent Ugandan human rights activist who was killed in Utah's Arches National Park in 2020. 2023 EHM Productions, Inc. All rights reserved. The family had initially sought a total of $270 million in damages, before lowering the amount to $140 -- while the government only wanted to pay $3.5 million. 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,.
Moon Conjunct North Node Transit, Articles E