Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her husband in Denver, where she moved to attend a leadership course on a full scholarship. Her husband, Michaud, is seeking $240 million in damages from the National Park Service, while Nakajjigo's family is seeking $30 million. IE 11 is not supported. The amount was far less than the $140 million Nakajjigos family originally sought. / CBS Colorado. Her dreams were just about to come true, Chang said. Elizabeth Chuck is a reporter for NBC News who focuses on health and mental health, particularly issues that affect women and children. 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. Esther Nakajjigo's horrified husband was driving when a metal gate was whipped round in the wind and cut into the car where she was sitting and beheading her in Arches National Park in Utah, US. He no longer has a TV in his apartment because the sight of any blood is triggering, he said. Credit: AP FILE - Delicate. The gate had been left unlatched against federal policy for two weeks prior to the tragic accident in June 2020. Esther Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludovic Michaud, pose at Arches National Park on June 13, 2020. (Athea Trial Lawyers) Esther Nakajjigo is shown in this undated photo. "This act of selflessness went viral throughout Uganda, and she was featured in numerous magazines and news publications. 45 Join Insider . The end of that trial came Monday, but a verdict is still pending. 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. This is not the first time a tragedy like this has happened. One, Saving Innocence, depicted teenage girls from urban areas helping teen moms in rural communities go back to school. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. The claim, served Oct. 22, is seeking more than $270 million in damages from the National Park Service. In their legal complaint, Michaud and Nakajjigos parents said the National Park Service was negligent for not maintaining the gate. "Because (Nakajjigo) is off the charts, you can't use the charts to evaluate her," McGinn said. The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who was driving. "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. Nakajjigo and her husband Ludovic Michaud were vacationing in eastern Utah, visiting the region's national parks months after their wedding. Updated: Jan 31, 2023 / 03:49 PM MST. It impaled their car and decapitated 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. Later, his chin trembled as Nelson delivered the government's apology. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. She was named Ugandas ambassador for women and girls. The United States will pay more than $10 million in damages over the death of Esther Nakajjigo, a prominent . 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. 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. All times AEDT (GMT +11). But on Friday, U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nelson tried to give Michaud some peace of mind. FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. We dont know with any level of certainty what her plans were, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nelson said. 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 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.. But U.S. Attorney Amanda Berndt said while there's no question that the plaintiffs are entitled to a reward, a proper calculation of Nakajjigo's lost earnings must include the possibility that she might have left the workforce at some point for a variety of reasons. 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. She was particularly passionate about reducing teenage pregnancy and created two reality television shows that empowered women. The lawsuit filed by Ludovic Michaud, of Denver, claims his wife Esther Nakajjigo was decapitated while in the passenger seat of a car exiting Arches National Park. "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. deductible, Report a missed paper by emailingsubscribe@sltrib.comor calling801-237-2900, For e-edition questions or comments, contact customer support801-237-2900or emailsubscribe@sltrib.com. 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. 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. All this building towards the $140million in damages. The ruling was. The family of a Ugandan young girl child activist, Esther Nakajjigo who died in the United States of America (USA) have asked government to help them repatriate her body, to be accorded a decent burial. 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. (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. 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. Esther Nakajjigo, a native of Uganda, accomplished more at age 25 than most do in a lifetime. FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. 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 . I didnt know who she was at first, Michaud, 26, told NBC News in his first interview since Nakajjigos death. Diana Dasrath is entertainment producer and senior reporter for NBC News covering all platforms. A lot of things remind me of her, Michaud told the Salt Lake Tribune. 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. 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. Recreation areas had recently opened after pandemic-era closures and . 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. All rights reserved. Posted at 10:15 PM, Nov 12, 2020 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. 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. I really wanted to show her Arches, he told Fox 13. 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. She was also awarded a full scholarship from the king of Buganda. Lorsque vous utilisez nos sites et applications, nous utilisons des, authentifier les utilisateurs, appliquer des mesures de scurit, empcher les spams et les abus; et. dvelopper et amliorer nos produits et services. Join Outside+ to get Outside magazine, access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. Michaud's wife, Esther Nakajjigo, 25, was a celebrated human rights activist in her home country of Uganda. 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. He has since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and has struggled with flashbacks. At just 17, using her college tuition money, she created a nonprofit community health center. 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.. Arches National Park is a 120-square-mile desert landscape near Moab, Utah, that is visited by more than 1.5 million people annually. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5 million for Utah death - Los Angeles Times Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Nakajjigo, who went by Essie, was a womens rights champion in Uganda. Nakajjigo was killed instantly. Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. 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. What awaited them there was as awful as it was unthinkable. 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. Attorneys representing the U.S. commended her work, yet noted her most recent job was working at a restaurant making $15 per hour. SALT LAKE CITY Ludovic "Ludo" Michaud has tortured himself with a lot of "what ifs?" 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. First published on November 12, 2020 / 2:34 PM. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. For this work, the United Nations Population Fund gave her the Woman Achiever Award. 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. Additionally, Berndt said the plaintiffs can only speculate on what Nakajjigo might have done had she lived, and the court can't ignore that "in favor of dreams and potential.". Si vous souhaitez personnaliser vos choix, cliquez sur Grer les paramtres de confidentialit. At age 17, Nakajjigo. 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. Nakajjigo, 25, was a Ugandan human rights activist and moved to Colorado in 2019 to attend the Watson Institute in Boulder. They had a courthouse ceremony in March, with plans to throw a big wedding in Uganda once it was safe to travel again. 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. The gate narrowly avoided Michaud, who was left covered head to toe in his wife's blood. FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. "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 One series reportedly had a weekly audience of 6.3 million viewers. The claim she served is legally required before a lawsuit can be filed in court. I felt completely meaningless after losing Nakajjigo, he said. This photo was taken in the hours before a gate swung into the couple's car, killing Nakajjigo. You wouldnt able to detect it or see it, she told Fox 13. 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 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. 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. SALT . Nakajjigo created a reality TV show that helped child mothers stay in school and develop life skills, according to The Denver Post. 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. 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 report by NBC News, following a June accident at Arches National Park near Moab. 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 . Though the amount was substantially less than pursued, attorneys representing the family of Esther Nakajjigo celebrated the judgement . The trial began in December and in court, per the AP, family attorney Randi McGinn reportedly argued Nakajjigo could have eventually brought in hundreds of thousands, if not millions, annually had she survived. 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.. 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. The last thing she said to him was, "Babe, I had the best time of my life." The 25-year-old human rights activist and newlywed wife was killed on June 13, 2020, in Arches National Park. Jenkins awarded Michaud $9.5 million; Nakajjigos mother, Christine Namagembe, $700,000; and her father, John Bosco Kateregga, $350,000. At age 17, Nakajjigo was recognized by the United Nations for her work for women, according to the claim. Esther Nakajjigo and her husband were visiting the regions national parks months after their wedding. All rights reserved. Esther Nakajjigo had been visiting Utah's Arches National Park when she was killed by a gate caught in the wind. Instead, Michaud met his wife's family -- who traveled to the States from Uganda -- for the first time just before the trial started. She was always willing to help, he said. "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. Nelson, the governments attorney, has said an appropriate award would be $3.5million (2.9m). 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. 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. Fox13 reports the metal. 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. 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. Esther Nakajjigo was a prominent Ugandan human rights activist who was killed in Utah's Arches National Park in 2020. 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. Esther Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud at Arches National Park in eastern Utah. "I'll respond as soon as I'm able," Jenkins said. 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 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. What if he hadn't suggested the trip to Arches? A lot of things remind me of her, Michaud told the. Esther Nakajjigo was a Ugandan human rights activist and newlywed wife when the 25-year-old was killed at Arches National Park in 2020, decapitated by an unsecured gate that is now at the center of a wrongful death trial. Cruise staffer fired after shock bathroom act, Passengers injured as turbulence rocks plane. 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. The amount was far less than the $140 million Nakajjigos family originally sought. 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. Instead of planning their future together, Michaud is now processing the trauma and grief of Nakajjigos gruesome death and hoping the lawsuit his attorney plans to file will save other families from experiencing what he did. Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. The family of Esther Nakajjigo accused the National Park Service of negligence for not properly securing the metal gate that killed her. Sign up today. In his ten-page verdict, U.S. District Court Judge Bruce Jenkins said the government admitted fault and apologized for Nakajjigos death. You wouldnt able to detect it or see it.. Michaud was the last plaintiff witness in the civil trial over the June 13, 2020, death of his wife, Esther Nakajjigo. 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 (credit: Ludovic Michaud) Nakajjigo, 25, was a Ugandan human rights activist and moved to Colorado in 2019 to attend the Watson Institute in Boulder. They stipulate, however, that the plaintiffs should be awarded $22,508 for Nakajjigo's funeral expenses and $5,000 for Michaud's therapy expenses. Everything reminds Michaud of Nakajjigo. 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. 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. They had wanted three children. The National Park Service did not respond to repeated inquiries from NBC News, nor did Arches National Park Chief Ranger Scott Brown. The 25-year-old human rights activist and newlywed wife. On Monday, a federal judge in Utah ruled that the U.S. government must pay her family more than $10 million in damages. Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her. 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 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. 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. A federal judge ruled Monday that the U.S. will shell out more than $10 million in damages to the family of Esther Nakajjigo after she was killed in an accident at a Utah national park in. The United Nations Population Fund awarded her a Woman Achiever Award," the claim states. 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. 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 . Photo: Esther Nakajjigo/Twitter. 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.. We hope that, in some way, the conclusion of this trial will help with your moving forward.". Esther Nakajjigo, a 25-year-old Ugandan human rights activist, was killed in a horrific accident at Arches National Park on June 13, 2020. One of his regrets is not saying, "I love you," one more time. 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. 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. mesurer votre utilisation de nos sites et applications. Instead, the Utah park became the site of a horrific accident that killed her. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her husband in Denver, where she moved to attend a leadership course on a full scholarship. 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 United States will pay more than $10 million in damages over the death of Esther Nakajjigo, a prominent . 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. 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. 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. (Athea Trial Lawyers) Esther Nakajjigo is shown in this undated photo. Michaud and his in-laws are asking a federal judge for $140 million. 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.". Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. But on June 13, she and her husband needed a break from quarantine and headed toward Arches National Park in Utah. deductible, Report a missed paper by emailingsubscribe@sltrib.comor calling801-237-2900, For e-edition questions or comments, contact customer support801-237-2900or emailsubscribe@sltrib.com. 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 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. According to Deborah Chang, the Los Angeles-based trial attorney representing Michaud, there was nothing he could have done to swerve out of the way of the gate that killed his wife and narrowly missed him. 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. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. "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. "You bear no responsibility. IE 11 is not supported. 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. Even simple tasks like cooking rice stored in a jar that Nakajjigo bought before her death feel paralyzing, he said. FILE Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. Esther Nakajjigo (credit: Ludovic Michaud).
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