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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. Nakajjigo worked on fundraising to open a hospital in an underserved part of Kampala, Ugandas capital, became a philanthropic celebrity and immigrated to the United States for a fellowship at the Boulder, Colorado-based Watson Institute for emerging leaders. 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). The National Park Service did not respond to repeated inquiries from NBC News, nor did Arches National Park Chief Ranger Scott Brown. Her husband, Michaud, is seeking $240 million in damages from the National Park Service, while Nakajjigo's family is seeking $30 million. But on Friday, U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nelson tried to give Michaud some peace of mind. I know all the parks around Moab Its one of my favourite places in the US, if not my favourite place.. 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. Courtesy of. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax "On behalf of the family, we are very appreciative of the judge's attention to detail, the time he spent working on this, and for the value he put on the loss to this family of Essie," added Littlepage. Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Throughout the trial, attorneys debated estimates of Nakajjigos earnings potential. 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. 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. Though the amount was substantially less than pursued, attorneys representing the family of Esther Nakajjigo celebrated the judgement . 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.. 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. Nakajjigos remains were flown back to Uganda in August. Nakajjigo donated her own college fund to start a hospital, Berndt said; she raised money for charities and never took a salary. 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. 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. NBC wrote that Nakajjigo 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, Colo., where she was the recipient of a Luff Peace Fellowship., Michaud, originally of France, was uninjured in the accident, but, according to NBCs report, has since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder., Donate to the newsroom now. The ruling was. This photo was taken in the hours before a gate swung into the couple's car, killing Nakajjigo. 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 dreams were just about to come true, Chang said. At just 17, using her college tuition money, she created a nonprofit community health center. The wind whipped a metal gate round which sliced through the passenger door of the car and decapitated Esther. Here's what lawmakers have directed schools to do, Can't take statins? In his ten-page verdict, U.S. District Court Judge Bruce Jenkins said the government admitted fault and apologized for Nakajjigos death. Monday's closing arguments focused heavily on the differences in testimony made by several economic experts, two of whom projected that Nakajjigo would have earned at least $9 million in her lifetime and the third who estimated Nakajjigo would have made between about $750,000 and $938,000. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Esther "Essie" Nakajjigo's husband and parents initially filed a $270 million claim against the National Park Service in 2021 over her 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. 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. 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. 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. Esther Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud at Arches National Park in eastern Utah. "I'll respond as soon as I'm able," Jenkins said. Michaud hopes he and Nakajjigos family can continue her legacy. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Later, his chin trembled as Nelson delivered the government's apology. 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. Theres a newsletter that went out to all the parks and the National Park Service that warned of this decades ago. They had wanted three children. The metal gate at Arches National Park, normally secured with a lock, was left untethered. None. "For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good," the claim continues. 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. 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. In his judgement, Jenkins said the government had provided a more reasonable projection of Nakajjigos earnings potential. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. 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. 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 . She was particularly passionate about reducing teenage pregnancy and created two reality television shows that empowered women. 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. FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. This is not the first time a tragedy like this has happened. 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. 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. One of his regrets is not saying, "I love you," one more time. New pill cuts cholesterol, heart attacks, Suspect in Dylan Rounds disappearance charged with murder. They said you have to lock it or its going to impale a car, so everyone knows, Chang said. 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. mesurer votre utilisation de nos sites et applications. The end of that trial came Monday, but a verdict is still pending. All times AEDT (GMT +11). 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. We hope that, in some way, the conclusion of this trial will help with your moving forward.". Everything reminds Michaud of Nakajjigo. Join Outside+ to get Outside magazine, access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. FILE Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. Judge Bruce Jenkins said he wants to "examine with care" all the information presented during the weeklong trial. 72 Join Insider . 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. Sign up today. He was "instantly covered with blood," the complaint says. 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. 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. 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. 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. On Monday, a federal judge in Utah ruled that the U.S. government must pay her family more than $10 million in damages. IE 11 is not supported. All this building towards the $140million in damages. Its known for a series of sculpture-like fins and arches made of an orange sandstone that wind and water have eroded for centuries. 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 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. Cruise staffer fired after shock bathroom act, Passengers injured as turbulence rocks plane. The lawsuit alleges that a simple $8 padlock could have prevented the gate from swinging, and claims the park violated regulations. Nakajjigo was decapitated after wind swung an untethered metal gate into her . Her mother flew to Utah from Uganda to attend the trial this week. dvelopper et amliorer nos produits et services. Chang expects to file the lawsuit in about six months. The last thing she said to him was, "Babe, I had the best time of my life." Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. Jenkins awarded Michaud $9.5 million; Nakajjigos mother, Christine Namagembe, $700,000; and her father, John Bosco Kateregga, $350,000. 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. 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 The family of human rights activist Esther Nakajjigo, who was decapitated in an accident in Arches National Park, has sued the National Park Service. During the trials opening statements in December, Nakajjigo was described as a pearl beyond price with limitless potential. Ms Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludo Michaud, 26, were driving out of the scenic parks carpark when wind caught the unlatched gate and the metal pole on top sliced through the side of their rental car and hit Ms Nakajjigo in the head and neck, killing her instantly. They stipulate, however, that the plaintiffs should be awarded $22,508 for Nakajjigo's funeral expenses and $5,000 for Michaud's therapy expenses. 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. "This act of selflessness went viral throughout Uganda, and she was featured in numerous magazines and news publications. 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. I found her really interesting. Attorneys representing the U.S. commended her work, yet noted her most recent job was working at a restaurant making $15 per hour. 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. Mr Michaud and Ms Nakajjigos family have filed a lawsuit in a US court accusing the National Park Service of negligence, Fox 13 reports. You wouldnt able to detect it or see it.. Updated: Jan 31, 2023 / 03:49 PM MST. She was subsequently named Ugandas ambassador for women and girls. "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 They had a courthouse ceremony in March, with plans to throw a big wedding in Uganda once it was safe to travel again. The amount was far less than the $140 million Nakajjigos family originally sought. Michaud was the last plaintiff witness in the civil trial over the June 13, 2020, death of his wife, Esther Nakajjigo. Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her. All rights reserved. Estimated read time: 5-6 It feels lonely, and thats hard. (Athea Trial Lawyers) Esther Nakajjigo is shown in this undated photo. 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. 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. She was always willing to help, he said. 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. Something went wrong, please try again later. A cruise employee has had his contract terminated after he was allegedly seen filming women from a female bathroom. afficher des publicits et des contenus personnaliss en fonction de vos profils de centres dintrt; mesurer lefficacit des publicits et contenus personnaliss; et. "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. / CBS Colorado. Newlyweds Esther "Essie" Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud visited the park in mid June. Instead, the Utah park became the site of a horrific accident that killed her. 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.. Nakajjigo also created a reality television show in Uganda focused on helping teenage mothers stay in school and learn life skills. For this work, the United Nations Population Fund gave her the Woman Achiever Award. 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. Michaud, Nakajjigo's husband, spoke about the intense trauma he's endured since his wife's death, including sleeplessness, nightmares and suicidal ideation. Matthew McConaugheys wife was among the passengers on board a Lufthansa flight struck by severe turbulence and has described the chaos. 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 . The United States will pay more than $10 million in damages over the death of Esther Nakajjigo, a prominent . 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. But now, Michaud said, he returns to an apartment that doesn't feel like a home. 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The administrative claim is a legally required precursor to a lawsuit, which is expected to be filed in about six months. 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. Esther Nakajjigo (credit: Ludovic Michaud). 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. Esther Nakajjigo lost her life when she was decapitated at an entrance to Arches National Park in Utah back in June. 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. 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 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. 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. Nakajjigo, 25, was a Ugandan human rights activist and moved to Colorado in 2019 to attend the Watson Institute in Boulder. 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 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 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. (Athea Trial Lawyers) Esther Nakajjigo is shown in this undated photo. 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. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. I didnt know who she was at first, Michaud, 26, told NBC News in his first interview since Nakajjigos death. FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. Nakajjigo was. "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. "On behalf of the United States, we again extend our condolences to Ms. Nakajjigos friends, family and beloved community. Lindsay Whitehurst/AP 45 Join Insider . I couldnt work properly for a couple of months. 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. 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. 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. 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 claim she served is legally required before a lawsuit can be filed in court. 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.