Attorneys representing Michaud and Nakajjigos parents asked for $140 million in damages, while the government said an appropriate award would be roughly $3.5 million. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. The horror of Nakajjigo's death is one reason Michaud has filed a claim with the National Park Service seeking $270 million. One, Saving Innocence, depicted teenage girls from urban areas helping teen moms in rural communities go back to school. Esther Nakajjigo, a native of Uganda, accomplished more at age 25 than most do in a lifetime. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Trial begins two years after newlywed was beheaded by metal gate at Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. She also said it should have been installed to swing inwards for incoming traffic, not outwards. She described Nakajjigo as a prominent women's rights activist who 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. 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. Attorneys representing Michaud and Nakajjigo's parents asked for $140 million in damages, while the government said an appropriate award would be roughly $3.5 million. The family is hoping to use money from the case to continue Essies projects. Join Outside+ to get Outside magazine, access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. 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. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. Attorneys representing the U.S. commended her work, yet noted her most recent job was working at a restaurant making $15 per hour. "Multiple fatalities" in massive pile-up on Illinois highway, Yellen warns U.S. could default on debt as early as June 1. "The show saw an audience of 6.3 million each week, and Nakajjigo was named Uganda's 'Young Personality of the Year,'" the Denver Post reported. What awaited them there was as awful as it was unthinkable. At just 17, using her college tuition money, she created a nonprofit community health center. "She was the woman I was trying to spend my life with," said the Parisian who'd moved to the U.S. "Everything was perfect.". For this work, the United Nations Population Fund gave her the Woman Achiever Award. Nakajjigo and her husband Ludovic Michaud were vacationing in eastern Utah, visiting the region's national parks months after their wedding. In opening statements Monday in Salt Lake City, attorneys representing Michaud and Nakajjigo's family said they were seeking $140 million in damages from the government. She was best known for a reality show in Uganda that reached millions of viewers. 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. "Emergency response personnel from the National Park Service, Grand County Sheriffs Office, Grand County EMS, Moab City Police Department, Utah Highway Patrol and Moab Valley Fire Department responded to the scene to provide assistance. He said he didn't 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 turned my head and saw what I wish I didn't see.". Members get 15+ publications right in your pocket. "This act of selflessness went viral throughout Uganda, and she was featured in numerous magazines and news publications. 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. In June, the couple needed a break from quarantine, so they drove to Utah. Michaud says he wants to keep her legacy going, but he also wants the gates at National Parks and forests across the U.S. to be safe for visitors. / CBS/AP. Its a fear of erasing her, I guess, when you use something that she bought or that she ate or that we did together.. Because neither the U.S. nor Nakajjigos family disputed the facts of the case, the civil suit focused largely on the amount of damages merited. A lot of things remind me of her, Michaud told the. Please enter valid email address to continue. Because neither the U.S. nor Nakajjigo's family disputed the facts of the case, the civil suit focused largely on the amount of damages merited. FOX 13 reported earlier this year how Nakajjigo died June 13, 2020, after wind caught a traffic control gate and blew it into the rented Chevy Malibu driven by her husband, Ludo Michaud. During the trials opening statements in December, Nakajjigo was described as a pearl beyond price with limitless potential, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. December 6, 2022 / 9:23 AM Nakajjigos family and friends in Uganda started a petition to the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Ministry of Health in the country to make an exception for the young activist, the newspaper continued. DENVER (CBS4) - The family of a woman killed while visiting Arches National Park is hoping they can change the dangerous conditions that lead to her death and continue the philanthropy she. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. The United States will pay family members of Esther Nakajjigo, a Ugandan human rights activist killed in an accident at Arches National Park more than $10 million in damages, a federal judge ruled . National parks begin to reopen across the country. Esther Nakajjigo (credit: Ludovic Michaud). He noted she had recently worked as a host at a restaurant around the time of her death and didn't have a Bachelor's degree. In the court documents filed in U.S. District Court in Denver, Chang described the gates as the same color as the landscape. The metal pole forming the top of the gate pierced the passenger side of the car and struck Nakajjigo in the head and neck. "I'm trying to be a star, to be able to lighten the lives of the people who feel it's dark," she said. What happens to First Republic Bank's stock and deposits now? Esther Nakajjigo, 25, died on a windy summer day in 2020 when a piece of a metal gate from Utah's Arches National Park broke through the passenger door and decapitated her - and now her husband. 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 couple's car, decapitating Nakajjigo as her husband sat feet away in the driver's seat. The gruesome nature of Nakajjigo's death and the fact that she was a renowned Ugandan womens rights activist drew widespread attention to the case. 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. Attorneys representing the U.S. commended her work, yet noted her most recent job was working at a restaurant making $15 per hour. The gate was owned by the United States government and anchored on government property., READ NEXT: Famous Rappers Brother Dies From Apparent Suicide, Esther Nakajjigo: Uganda Activist Decapitated in Utah National Park, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Family of woman killed by gate at Arches National Park awarded $10.2M She earned numerous global awards and traveled to the U.S. to further her education, the newspaper reported. Trial begins in civil suit filed for accidental beheading death at Utah Esther Nakajjigo, a native of Uganda, accomplished more at age 25 than most do in a lifetime. "Nakajjigo, who went by Essie, was a women's rights champion in Uganda. Family of Woman Killed at Arches National Park Awarded $10.5M 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 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. 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. 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 couple hiked to Delicate Arch and ate lunch in the Windows area before starting their drive out of the park. 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 a statement to CBS News on Monday. Activist Esther Nakajjigo dies in the U.S NTVUganda 930K subscribers Subscribe 28K views 2 years ago The family of Esther Nakajjigo a Ugandan Activist who died in the US is asking the. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? What it means to be a woman in the world's largest refugee settlement..it means you don't own anything not even your body. Denver Woman Decapitated By Gate: Family Files $270M Wrongful Death In his judgement, Jenkins said the government had provided a more reasonable projection of Nakajjigo's earnings potential. The organization was tailored toward reducing the risk of teenage pregnancy among teens. Of the accidents aftermath, Michaud told FOX 13: I saw the worst thing I hope I will ever see.. At 17 years old, Nakajjigo used her college tuition money to start a nonprofit community health center, NBC News reported. 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. I couldnt work properly for a couple of months. Trial begins for Ugandan death in Arches National Park 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. Throughout the trial, attorneys debated estimates of Nakajjigo's earnings potential. Throughout the trial, attorneys debated estimates of Nakajjigos earnings potential. The suit does not specify the amount the plaintiffs are seeking, though it accuses park staff of negligence. Instead, the Utah park became the site of a horrific accident that killed her. 2022 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. "I've always wanted to meet him, though not in this way," he said. Michaud and his in-laws previously filed a claim with the National Park Service a step toward filing the lawsuit asking for $270 million. On Monday, a federal judge in Utah . Nakajjigo created a reality TV show that helped child mothers stay in school and develop life skills, according to The Denver Post. We loved getting out and going to beautiful places, Michaud said. She was consistently working to improve the lives of women in Africa and beyond. The complaint also describes how Michaud had to witness the grisly scene. Powered by, according to a wrongful death administrative claim obtained by NBC News, Famous Rappers Brother Dies From Apparent Suicide. "For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good," the claim said. Esther Nakajjigo (credit: Ludovic Michaud) Nakajjigo, 25, was a Ugandan human rights activist and moved to Colorado in 2019 to attend the Watson Institute in Boulder. The. Arches National Park is a 120-square-mile desert landscape near Moab, Utah, that is visited by more than 1.5 million people annually. "For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good," the claim continues. In his judgement, Jenkins said the government had provided a more reasonable projection of Nakajjigos earnings potential. U.S. Govt. Only Wants to Pay $3.5 Million to Family of Woman . Nakajjigos family will have to show her death was caused by more than negligence, said James C. Kozlowski, an associate professor of recreation management at George Mason University who studies legal issues in the outdoor industry. Trying To Figure Out How To Move Forward: Widower Of Denver Woman Decapitated By Gate At Arches National Park Struggles After Trauma. 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. 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 By SAM METZ Associated Press January 31, 2023, 11:37 AM 2:19 National headlines from ABC News Catch up on the developing stories making headlines. 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 woman I loved and I saw her for just her.. Esther Nakajjigo and her husband were visiting the regions national parks months after their wedding. I found her really interesting. McGinn said if her life hadn't been cut short that Nakajjigo's trajectory suggested she would have gone on to become a nonprofit CEO who could eventually have netted an annual income in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, or even millions. 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. Sign up for service and obituary updates. 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 and Nakajjigo had been married for just under three months when they decided to go see the Arches. The amount was far less than the $140 million Nakajjigos family originally sought. But on June 13, she and her husband needed a break from quarantine and headed toward Arches National Park in Utah. Esther Nakajjigo, age 25, of Denver, Colorado passed away on Saturday June 13, 2020. Im still trying to figure out how to move forward, how to wake up in the morning., What he saw and experienced that day, I cannot even imagine, said Deborah Chang, an attorney representing Michaud and the Nakajjigo family. The same year, Nakajjigo was named Ugandas ambassador for women and girls. 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. They had a courthouse ceremony in March, with plans to throw a big wedding in Uganda once it was safe to travel again. $140M trial begins over death of Ugandan woman killed in Utah park IE 11 is not supported. There is a lot of small things I miss.. The plaintiffs contend multiple federal policies require such gates to be secured, but that the gate near the visitors center at Arches was unlatched for two weeks before it struck Nakajjigo. Attorney: 'For want of an $8 padlock, woman lost life'. Denver7's Lance Hernandez reports. 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. I didnt know who she was at first, the 26-year-old expressed to NBC News. After requesting that the family leave the courtroom, she recounted the moment Michaud. 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 . 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. 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. An activist's dreams 'were about to come true.' Then, a horrific The end of the gate impaled the car like a lance, and literally beheaded his newly-wed bride right in front of him.. Newlyweds Esther "Essie" Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud visited the park in mid June. This is not the first time a tragedy like this has happened. Several dozen per day. We asked the Park Service about the swing gates and were told that both sides are now padlocked when in the "open" position. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Initiative by the late @nakajjigo | https://t.co/hMEUS3a5uj pic.twitter.com/OBhxkiPqPZ, Urban Television (@UrbanTVUganda) October 25, 2020. The suit was filed last week in federal court in Denver by the widower and parents of Nakajjigo. As they entered the park on June 13, high winds blew the park entrance gate, a swinging pole, back across the highway. "It could have happened to the people in front of us, or behind us," he said. Its still hard to concentrate, but I try to.. First published on December 6, 2022 / 9:23 AM. Their economic expert will testify that her death represents a. "For how majestic these parks are, it's kind of shocking how rudimentary these gates are," she said. 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. 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 family's attorney said in a statement. The family of Esther Nakajjigo was awarded over $10 million from the U.S. government in a wrongful death case stemming from a tragic accident in 2020. Show your support Send Flowers Send flowers or a sympathy gift to a service or family. Attorney Randi McGinn, representing Nakajjigo's family, on Monday described the death in gruesome detail. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. He didnt know Nakajjigo had a massive following in her native Uganda. She was very strong personality, really funny, really smart, said Ludovic Michaud, Essie Nakajjigos husband. Upon leaving, an unsecured metal gate swung into the road, killing Nakajjigo who was sitting in the passenger seat. The claim she served is legally required before a lawsuit can be filed in court. The gruesome nature of Nakajjigos death and the fact that she was a renowned Ugandan womens rights activist drew widespread attention to the case. Wilson Jaga, head of communications for the Office of Ugandas Ambassador for Women and Girls, advocated for her return in a statement obtained by the outlet, writing: We have also petitioned the Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda requesting that H. E. Esther Nakajjigos short lived but very instrumental life be celebrated and Essie accorded a State Funeral as a symbol of recognition of small interventions made by young people to make their country a great nation. Nakajjigo, who was 25 at the time, was "needlessly decapitated," according to a wrongful death administrative claim obtained by NBC News. Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her husband in Denver, where she moved to attend a leadership course on a full scholarship. At just 17, using her college tuition money, she created a nonprofit community health center. Nakajjigo married Denver man Ludovic Michaud in March 2020. Liability is the exception rather than the rule, Kozlowski said. Nakajjigo, who went by Essie, was a womens rights champion in Uganda. Heading out the door? Im still struggling with that, Michaud said. "Woman decapitated at Arches National Park, $270 million wrongful death In court, Michaud described his relationship with Nakajjigo as the best time of his life., It feels lonely, and thats hard. Family of woman, 25, decapitated by metal gate at Utah Park sue Liability, if any, would have to be based on proof of willful wanton misconduct, sometimes referred to as gross negligence.. She founded the Princess Diana Health Center, Moab Sun News continued. 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.. 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. Nakajjigo accomplished more by age 25 than most people do in a lifetime. After requesting that the family leave the courtroom, she recounted the moment Michaud realized his wife had been killed, when he inhaled the copper-tinged smell of blood, turned to figure out what it was and saw she was dead. IE 11 is not supported. Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her husband in Denver, where she moved to attend a leadership course on a full scholarship. Shes done more at the age of 25 than most people do in their entire lives, she said. Download the app. 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.. During the trials opening statements in December, Nakajjigo was described as a pearl beyond price with limitless potential. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. The wrongful death claim was served on October 22 and seeks more than $270 million in damages from the National Park Service, the outlet reported. Our mission is to make sure this doesnt happen again, Michaud said. Esther Nakajjigo Of Denver Decapitated By Gate :Family Files $270M Wrongful Death Claim Against Arches National Park [VIDEO] Trying To Figure Out How To Move Forward': Widower Of Denver Woman Decapitated By Gate At Arches National Park Struggles After Trauma Esther was born April 16, 1995. Add a Memory $10.5 million awarded to family of Denver woman killed at Arches Her husband was not harmed, the station added. 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. Everything reminds Michaud of Nakajjigo. Woman decapitated by metal gate in front of her horrified husband in / CBS Colorado. But on June 13, she and her husband needed a break from quarantine and headed toward Arches National Park in Utah. If you have a story idea or tip for the FOX 13 Investigative unit, please share it with us below: Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. Denver woman killed during visit to Arches National Park Denver7's Lance Hernandez reports. "I don't want anyone or any other family to go through what we've been through," Michaud told CBS affiliate KUTV. 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 family's lawsuit claims when the national parks reopened in April 2020 after being shuttered due to COVID-19, rangers at the national park in Utah didn't 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.". 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. Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! The trial over a wrong death lawsuit of a Ugandan activist has begun. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Elizabeth Chuck is a reporter for NBC News who focuses on health and mental health, particularly issues that affect women and children. Nakajjigo, who went by Essie, was a women's rights champion in Uganda. Nakajjigo was a celebrated human rights activist in Uganda, her home country, Moab Sun News continued. She received multiple honors for her humanitarian work and was attending a leadership program in Bolder, Colorado, at the time of her death. At age 17, Nakajjigo. Ugandan activist, 25, decapitated by gate in Utah's Arches National It feels lonely, and thats hard. FOX 13 reported earlier this year how Nakajjigo died June 13, 2020. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. At this time, I do not have more information to share.". Her husband was not harmed, the station added. Let others know about your loved one's death. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5 million for Utah death - Los She really loved the Denver vibe and so do I. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Esther Nakajjigo, age 25, of Denver, Colorado passed away on Saturday June 13, 2020. Activist, 25, hailed as 'future Oprah or Princess Diana' is I didnt know who she was at first, Michaud, 26, told NBC News in his first interview since Nakajjigos death. Shed come to Colorado to learn how to bolster her business acumen at the Watson Institute in Boulder. According to NBC News, Nakajjigo was named as Ugandas ambassador for women and girls. He has since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and has struggled with flashbacks. The United Nations Population Fund awarded her a Woman Achiever Award," the claim states. In their legal complaint, Michaud and Nakajjigos parents said the National Park Service was negligent for not maintaining the gate. Her dreams were just about to come true, Chang said.
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