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. The $270 million claim related to Nakajjigo's death accounts not only for her husband's anguish but the future fundraising potential of his wife, had she lived, Nakajjigo at age 17 was named Uganda's ambassador for women and girls after she used her college tuition money to found a nonprofit community health center. They went on a hike and had a picnic, and were driving to get ice cream when the gate swung into their path. She joined the paper in 2019 and previously worked as a crime reporter at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in Pennsylvania and the Chattanooga Times Free Press in Tennessee. Michaud said in a statement after the ruling that going through the court process has helped him to heal after the trauma of witnessing his wifes violent death. A federal judge awarded more than $10 million to the family of a Ugandan human rights activist who was decapitated while on a visit to Arches National Park in 2020. He noted in a nine-page order Monday that Nakajjigo lived a remarkable life. Revealed: All 76 bank branches that are shutting its doors this month in blow to the High Street with Charlotte is daddy's double! United States attorneys do not dispute that park officials shouldered the blame but argued the amount the family should be awarded is far less at $3.5 million and called into question the ways in which the damages being sought were calculated. Family of Ugandan activist decapitated in Arches National Park to The Olympian's mom, Esther Jenner , died on April 20 at the age of 96. Other . Arches National Park is a 120-square-mile desert landscape near Moab, Utah, that is visited by more than 1.5 million people annually. 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. The pair married in March of this year. A wrongful death lawsuit is underway after Esther Nakajjigo was killed by a metal gate there in spring 2020. Legal Statement. It was a clinic for teenagers that saw 300 people a day. Esther Nakajjigo: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know | Heavy.com But he hopes a lawsuit will enable him to carry on his deceased wife's life work - and to save others from her senseless fate, Michaud told NBC News. When he inhaled the copper-tinged smell of blood, turned to figure out what it was and saw his beheaded wife. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death 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. 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. Its known for a series of sculpture-like fins and arches made of an orange sandstone that wind and water have eroded for centuries. A wrongful death lawsuit is underway after Esther Nakajjigo was killed by a metal gate there in spring 2020. Picture: Handout "You wouldn't able to detect it or see it," she told Fox 13 . Denver Woman Decapitated By Gate: Family Files $270M Wrongful Death Last month, Nakajjigo's husband, Ludovic Michaud, and her parents filed a $270 million wrongful-death claim a precursor to a formal lawsuit alleging that the gate should have been . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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 . 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. Controversial NHS Tavistock transgender clinic is threatened with court action by watchdog after failing to 'If I didn't build it, somebody else would've': The Godfather of A.I. The National Park Service has, in fact, known for decades that an unsecured metal pipe gate creates an undetectable hazard and dangerous condition for its park invitees, the claim reads, noting at least three other instances since 1988 in which people in cars were fatally impaled by such gates. Only Wants to Pay $3.5 Million to Family of Woman Decapitated at State Park. Now! Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. 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 of a women's rights activist from Uganda sued the National Park Service this month after she was decapitated last year by a gate at Utah's Arches National Park. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, ', Esther Nakajjigo, 25, was a celebrated human rights advocate from Uganda who had taken fellowships in the U.S. to continue her efforts on behalf of Ugandan women and girls. Nakajjigo grew up in Uganda and at 17 was recognized by the United Nations for her work for women shed donated her college tuition money to start a nonprofit community health center that provided free reproductive health services to young women. Maybe the most important thing is to make sure what she's done continues beyond her, Michaud said. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. . Michaud took his new wife Nakajjigo to Arches National Park on June 13 to show the Uganda native the beauty of the natural sandstone curves, Nakajjigo's husband said he hopes that a planned lawsuit will prevent others from suffering the same tragic fate that his wife did as they left a parking lot in Arches National Park. Famously frosty Vogue editor Anna Wintour is seen cuddling up with her Jeff Bezos and girlfriend Lauren Sanchez party with A-list stars including Oprah Winfrey, Katy Perry and Met Gala prep! Attorney Randi McGinn, representing Nakajjigos family, on Monday asked the family to leave when he described the death in gruesome detail. A newsletter publicized that earlier incident to National Parks Service employees, said Chang. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson, File), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. In a video compilation of the 25-year old's accomplishments, Nakajjigo looked at the camera and said, "Esther means star." At age 17, the former Uganda resident was given property to sell for her own tuition but instead used it to open a hospital for women and girls, many of whom had been assaulted and neglected. Nakajjigo focused on girls who had themselves become mothers through rape or forced marriages. The couple was driving out of the park and passing by a metal pipe gate when one arm of the gate was dislodged by a gust of wind and swung into the cars path. Nakajjigo, 25, was born in Kampala, Uganda, and used her university tuition money to start a nonprofit community health care center for girls and young women when she was a teenager. Her family is filing a $270 million wrongful death claim against the park, saying her death was preventable. Activist branded 'future Princess Diana' beheaded gate at - Metro The wrongful death claim was served on October 22 and seeks more than $270 million in damages from the . Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Family of Ugandan activist decapitated in Arches National Park to Nelson, the governments attorney, has said an appropriate award would be $3.5million (2.9m). 'Nazi gold' turns out to be a WW2 bullet and a pair of muddy boots: Hunt for lost loot hidden in Dutch 'I'm no deadbeat dad!' (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson, File) She and her husband were newlyweds traveling in the well-known park when the wind caught the gate as they drove out, Fox13-KSTU in Salt Lake City reported . Ludo Michaud was the last plaintiff witness in the civil trial over the June 13, 2020, death of his wife, Esther Nakajjigo. EXCLUSIVE Boss of Lib-Dem run South Cambridgeshire council which was first to introduce a four-day week is IAN BIRRELL: Why are we kowtowing to a sinister dictatorship in China that still covers up the origins of Father 'crushed to death' in indoor cave at tourist attraction 'was read poem by his daughter' while he lay Can the Keto diet help treat mental illness? The gate pierced the car, decapitating Nakajjigo. Later Nakajjigo took her advocacy work to the United States, accepting fellowships atDrexel University in Philadelphia and the Watson Institute in Boulder, Colo. Last year in Aurora Colo., she met her husband on a dating site, NBC reported. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Kiszla: One-hit wonders? She had been among the many people of colour who have come to strongly condemn the systematic racism in the US.In a tweet, the Arches National Park confirmed that investigations into her death are still ongoing and sent out sympathies to the family of her deceased. ', Nakajjigo's remains were sent to Uganda in August for funeral services in her native country. The freaky accident happened near the Park's visitor center according to the Times-Independent as Nakajjigo had gone for a vacation in Utah County.The Grand County Sheriff's Office, Grand County EMS, the Moab City Police Department, and the Moab Valley Fire Department responded to the accident scene later and it was confirmed that the fatal accident was an extrication of an 85-echo' meaning it was an obvious fatality' according to the Moab Times. Activist, 25, hailed as 'future Oprah or Princess Diana' is Wind caught an unlatched traffic gate and turned it into the path of Michaud and Nakajjigos rented Chevy Malibu. The gates next to the visitors center at Arches have been changed. All Rights Reserved NewVision The claim is a step that has to be taken before Michaud can file a lawsuit. Hunter Biden claims he's paid Lunden Roberts $750k - $20,000 a month - in child nbcnews.com/news/us-news/activist-s-dreams-were-about-come-true-then-horrific-accident-n1245517, ROST v. UNITED STATES, CAMPER IMPALED ON FOREST SERVICE GATE, Childmarriages | Child Care and Rescue Programme, Do not sell or share my personal information. Besides failing to latch the gate, the claim contends the gates clockwise pivot violated federal standards. When do we want it? In Colorado, she met Michaud, who had moved there from France. Esther Nakajjigo, a 25-year-old Ugandan activist whod 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 months, Ludovic Michaud. They headed to Arches National Park as soon as the park reopened in June, eager for an adventure. 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 . Michaud had no idea the acclaim his date had garnered, but thought she was 'really interesting. Esther Nakajjigo was exiting the park June 13 when the sharp end of a freely swinging gate pierced her car, killing Nakajjigo and narrowly missing her husband. Biden FINALLY announces COVID vaccine requirement for travelers to US will be Have scientists finally created a jab to keep ALL flu strains at bay? Newlyweds Esther Nakajjigo, 25, and Ludovic Michaud, 26, were leaving the park June 13 to get ice cream when the gate swung out toward their car, piercing its side 'like a hot knife through butter,' according to a wrongful-death claim obtained byNBC News. The Met Gala begins! Esther Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludovic Michaud, pose at Arches National Park on June 13, 2020. Colourful British MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo 'was secretly battling bowel cancer' before he was found dead in a hotel room at the age of 46, Boss of Lib-Dem run South Cambridgeshire council which was first to introduce a four-day week is secretly working on university thesison the effect of a four-day week, Martin Lewis reveals how to get a cheaper supermarket shop and FREE food. The comments below have been moderated in advance. Devin Booker sulked. Family of Woman Killed at Arches National Park Awarded $10.5M Trial begins in civil suit filed for accidental beheading death at Utah 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. Boulder's Esther Nakajjigo Was Killed At Arches National Park In June In Pittsburgh, she helped the newspaper earn the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news after a mass shooting at a local synagogue, and in 2020 she was named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in local reporting for an investigation into child sexual abuse among Amish and Mennonite communities. An Aussie tradie was surfing on an island in Panama when he got smashed by a wave so hard he ended up having a 12-hour operation. Nakajjigo has been the face of Saving Innocence Challenge, a reality TV show addressing concerns about teenage pregnancy. Simple tasks that involve things that 'Essie' left behind - cooking rice that she bought, for instance - stop him in his tracks. Around 2 p.m., they were driving to get ice cream in the town of Moab when the gate swung into their path. Better late than never! 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 his car and decapitated Nakajjigo. 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. Expressions of love, respect, admiration, the talk of raising at least three children are all circumstances, among other things, now lost and incapable of being ever fully replaced. In life, Nakajjigo was recognized for her work on behalf of Ugandan girls before she was even an adult. Newlywed killed by swinging gate at Arches National Park After listening to five days of testimony about Nakajjigos personality and accomplishments, Jenkins said that it was all but impossible to put a price on her life and potential. Legal Statement. All rights reserved. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. Notices of claim must be filed ahead of lawsuits against government agencies and the lawsuit was filed June 8 in federal court. Michaud, upon seeing the gruesome sight, said he jumped out of the car and ran to the visitor's center for help. She drew international acclaim for projects such as Saving Innocence Challenge, a reality show that provided schooling and funded businesses for hundreds of Lake Victoria island girls who became pregnant out of desperation, in a phenomenon known as 'sex for fish.'. Father 'crushed to death' in indoor cave at tourist attraction 'was read poem by his daughter' while he lay dying in hospital bed - as previous safety concerns emerge about site where 49-year-old got stuck for four hours, Can the Keto diet help treat mental illness? 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. Speeding truck smashes into metal column in fatal Concord freeway wreck, San Jose: Pedestrian killed in early morning collision, Tornado flips cars, damages homes in coastal Florida city. A federal judge this week awarded $10.5 million to the family of a Denver woman who was killed when a metal gate at Utahs Arches National Park swung open, impaled her car and decapitated her. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. The gate pierced the car, decapitating Nakajjigo. Family of Ugandan philanthropist decapitated by traffic gate in Arches The Avalanche championship dynasty crumbles less than a year after hoisting the Stanley Cup. 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