Nous, Yahoo, faisons partie de la famille de marques Yahoo. She later created a pair of reality television shows designed to empower women. ", 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. "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 Though the amount was substantially less than pursued, attorneys representing the family of Esther Nakajjigo celebrated the judgement . John Ssenkindu, Esther's brother, told journalists that her sister was hit by a metallic gate of the Arches National Park in the US . According to NBC, the claim was served Oct. 22, and 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.. 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. Attorneys for the government have not disputed that park officials are at fault but instead have disputed how much the family should be awarded. Estimated read time: 5-6 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. Esther Nakajjigo lost her life when she was decapitated at an entrance to Arches National Park in Utah back in June. Our mission is to make sure this doesnt happen again, Michaud said. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. 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. 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. Instead, "the end of the lance-like gate pierced the side of their car and penetrated it like a hot knife through butter." IE 11 is not supported. 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. 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. Even simple tasks like cooking rice stored in a jar that Nakajjigo bought before her death feel paralyzing, he said. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. 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. He noted she had recently worked as a host at a restaurant around the time of her death and didnt have a Bachelors degree. Nelson, the governments attorney, has said an appropriate award would be $3.5million (2.9m). minutes. Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her husband in Denver, where she moved to attend a leadership course on a full scholarship. But now, Michaud said, he returns to an apartment that doesn't feel like a home. The National Park Service did not respond to repeated inquiries from NBC News, nor did Arches National Park Chief Ranger Scott Brown. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax 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. Nakajjigo, who went by Essie, was a womens rights champion in Uganda. 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 amount was far less than the $140 million Nakajjigos family originally sought. 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Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. 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. In his judgement, Jenkins said the government had provided a more reasonable projection of Nakajjigos earnings potential. 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. The family of Esther Nakajjigo accused the National Park Service of negligence for not properly securing the metal gate that killed her. Updated: Jan 31, 2023 / 03:49 PM MST. afficher des publicits et des contenus personnaliss en fonction de vos profils de centres dintrt; mesurer lefficacit des publicits et contenus personnaliss; et. She was particularly passionate about reducing teenage pregnancy and created two reality television shows that empowered women. 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. Her mother flew to Utah from Uganda to attend the trial this week. 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. 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 met Michaud on Tinder in 2019, when she was attending a leadership program in Boulder, Colorado. All times AEDT (GMT +11). Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her husband in Denver, where she moved to attend a leadership course on a full scholarship. Newlyweds Esther "Essie" Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud visited the park in mid June. 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. One time it was the delivery of her Social Security card; another time, an update on her immigration status. 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. The wind whipped a metal. 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 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. I couldnt work properly for a couple of months. Courtesy of. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. 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. One series reportedly had a weekly audience of 6.3 million viewers. 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. You wouldnt able to detect it or see it, she told Fox 13. Esther Nakajjigo, a 25-year-old Ugandan human rights activist, was killed in a horrific accident at Arches National Park on June 13, 2020. Esther Nakajjigo (credit: Ludovic Michaud). At age 17, Nakajjigo was recognized by the United Nations for her work for women, according to the claim. "This act of selflessness went viral throughout Uganda, and she was featured in numerous magazines and news publications. "I'll respond as soon as I'm able," Jenkins said. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax SALT . 72 Join Insider . 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. Instead, the Utah park became the site of a horrific accident that killed her. The ongoing trial will largely focus on determining the damages that may go to her family and Michaud. 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. He and his wife, Esther Nakajjigo, who had moved to Colorado from Uganda, went to Utah as a welcome break from being quarantined. (Athea Trial Lawyers) Esther Nakajjigo is shown in this undated photo. 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.. McGinn argued that the smaller projections were based on categories of evaluation not allowed for under Utah law. By age 25, when she died, she had accomplished more than most people do in an entire lifetime and had much more to do with her life, court documents state. He was "instantly covered with blood," the complaint says. We hope that, in some way, the conclusion of this trial will help with your moving forward.". We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. 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. She added that the plaintiffs' assumption that Nakajjigo would have taken a salary "far in excess" of most nonprofit CEOs is "simply contrary to everything the court has heard about her," Berndt said. The claim, served Oct. 22, is seeking more than $270 million in damages from the National Park Service. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. Elizabeth Chuck is a reporter for NBC News who focuses on health and mental health, particularly issues that affect women and children. 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. 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. The suit was filed last. 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. 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. 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. In the opening statements of the wrongful death lawsuit, attorneys representing Michaud and Nakajjigos family recounted the moment Michaud realised his wife had been killed. 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. 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. She was named Ugandas ambassador for women and girls. A woman who had married her husband only three months ago has died after a horror crash saw a car park gate swing through the couple's car and cut off her head. 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. The gruesome nature of Nakajjigos death and the fact that she was a renowned Ugandan womens rights activist drew widespread attention to the case. She was named as Ugandas ambassador for women and girls and received an award from the United Nations after she used her university tuition money to start a non-profit community centre that offered free healthcare to girls and women aged 10 to 24. 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. 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. SALT LAKE CITY Ludovic "Ludo" Michaud has tortured himself with a lot of "what ifs?" Nakajjigo married Denver man Ludovic Michaud in March 2020. 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 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 United Nations Population Fund awarded her a Woman Achiever Award," the claim states. Everything reminds Michaud of Nakajjigo. 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. All rights reserved. She was subsequently named Ugandas ambassador for women and girls. The metal gate at Arches National Park, normally secured with a lock, was left untethered. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. It's really a full-time job," he 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. Esther Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud at Arches National Park in eastern Utah. Attorneys representing the U.S. commended her work, yet noted her most recent job was working at a restaurant making $15 per hour. 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. US attorneys have said this claim was too speculative to be used as a basis for damages. FILE Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. 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. 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. Esther Nakajjigo, a 25-year-old Ugandan activist who'd moved to Colorado in 2019 to attend the Watson Institute in Boulder, died June 13, 2020, while visiting the park with her husband of two She was always willing to help, he said. 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. In their legal complaint, Michaud and Nakajjigos parents said the National Park Service was negligent for not maintaining the gate. 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. I was a couple of inches from dying, but I didnt, and right now I have a mission: Its to make sure what shes done continues.. A cruise employee has had his contract terminated after he was allegedly seen filming women from a female bathroom. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. As they were leaving the park on June 13, 2020, heavy winds apparently blew the metal entrance gate into the passenger side of the vehicle, striking and killing Nakajjigo. I didnt know who she was at first, Michaud, 26, told NBC News in his first interview since Nakajjigos death. Seven people have been rushed to hospital after severe turbulence on a flight led to an emergency landing. What if he hadn't suggested the trip. Nakajjigo, 25, was a Ugandan human rights activist and moved to Colorado in 2019 to attend the Watson Institute in Boulder. On Monday, a federal judge in Utah ruled that the U.S. government must pay her family more than $10 million in damages. 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 couple was leaving a park parking lot to get ice cream when a metal traffic control gate swung into the road, piercing the passenger side of the couples rental car and severing Nakajjigos head. Michaud and his in-laws are asking a federal judge for $140 million. "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 end of that trial came Monday, but a verdict is still pending. 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 lawsuit alleges that a simple $8 padlock could have prevented the gate from swinging, and claims the park violated regulations. Itd be like me pointing a piece of paper to you on its most narrow side. IE 11 is not supported. 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. 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.". 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. During the trials opening statements in December, Nakajjigo was described as a pearl beyond price with limitless potential. The gate narrowly avoided Michaud, who was left covered head to toe in his wife's blood. 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.. 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. He no longer has a TV in his apartment because the sight of any blood is triggering, he said. 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. Esther Nakajjigo had been visiting Utah's Arches National Park when she was killed by a gate caught in the wind. The 25-year-old human rights activist and newlywed wife was killed on June 13, 2020, in Arches National Park. This is not the first time a tragedy like this has happened. 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. Esther Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludovic Michaud, pose at Arches National Park on June 13, 2020. 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. We dont know with any level of certainty what her plans were, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nelson said. 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. 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. 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. Sign up today. On Monday, a federal judge in Utah ruled that the. 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. 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. Arches National Park is a 120-square-mile desert landscape near Moab, Utah, that is visited by more than 1.5 million people annually. What happened during the 2023 Utah Legislature. Esther Nakajjigo died on June 13 after a metal gate swung into a car she and her husband were in and sliced het head off Credit: Handout. Michaud was the last plaintiff witness in the civil trial over the June 13, 2020, death of his wife, Esther Nakajjigo. "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. 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. Nakajjigo was killed instantly. Esther Nakajjigo and her husband were visiting the regions national parks months after their wedding. 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. You wouldnt able to detect it or see it.. 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. Nothing we can say makes up for your loss. 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 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. In their legal complaint, Michaud and Nakajjigos parents said the National Park Service was negligent for not maintaining the gate. "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. The claim she served is legally required before a lawsuit can be filed in court. According to a court filing, the National Park Service and Arches National Park created a lethal and undetectable danger with the gate, which turned a metal pipe into a spear that went straight through the side of a car, decapitating and killing Esther Nakajjigo.. Nakajjigo created a reality TV show that helped child mothers stay in school and develop life skills, according to The Denver Post. Credit: AP FILE - Delicate. FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. None. 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. It impaled their car and decapitated Nakajjigo. Continuing her work brings him hope; he's already started a nonprofit in her name, the Esther Nakajjigo Foundation. Jenkins awarded Michaud $9.5 million; Nakajjigos mother, Christine Namagembe, $700,000; and her father, John Bosco Kateregga, $350,000. 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. 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. The 25-year-old human rights activist and newlywed wife. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. What if they had gone on a different day, or left at a different time? 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.

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