The Dignity Memorial brand name is used to identify a network of licensed funeral, cremation and cemetery providers that include affiliates of Service Corporation International, 1929 Allen Parkway, Houston, Texas. On Monday, a federal judge in Utah ruled that the U.S. government must pay her family more than $10 million in damages. The pole gate pierced the passenger compartment of the couple's rental car, a Chevy Malibu, and decapitated Esther. We asked the Park Service about the swing gates and were told that both sides are now padlocked when in the "open" position. Attorney Randi McGinn, representing Nakajjigo's family, on Monday described the death in gruesome detail. 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. 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. Jenkins awarded Michaud $9.5 million; Nakajjigo's mother, Christine Namagembe, $700,000; and her father, John Bosco Kateregga, $350,000. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5 million for Utah death - Los Angeles Times But on June 13, she and her husband needed a break from quarantine and headed toward Arches National Park in Utah. Let others know about your loved one's death. We loved getting out and going to beautiful places, Michaud said. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Our mission is to make sure this doesnt happen again, the husband of Esther Nakajjigo told NBC News in an exclusive interview. View of the Delicate Arch at sunset in the Arches National Park near Moab, Utah on April 21, 2018. Download the app . I couldnt work properly for a couple of months. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 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. The horror of Nakajjigo's death is one reason Michaud has filed a claim with the National Park Service seeking $270 million. 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.. 2022 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. A National Park Service spokeswoman declined to comment on the lawsuit Monday. She served as an ambassador for women and girls in her native Uganda, and created a reality TV show to combat early pregnancy and forced marriage. Nakajjigos remains were flown back to Uganda in August. After requesting that the family leave the courtroom, she recounted the moment Michaud. 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. Michaud, who hails from France, told the station during his first interview since his wifes death that he just saw her as a smart person who loved to laugh.. 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. 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. How do you measure someone like her? IE 11 is not supported. FOX 13 reported earlier this year how Nakajjigo died June 13, 2020. 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. Throughout the trial, attorneys debated estimates of Nakajjigo's earnings potential. 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. 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. A federal judge this week awarded $10.5 million to the family of a Denver woman. This photo was taken in the hours before a gate swung into the couple's car, killing Nakajjigo. 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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.". The couple had been married about three months. She was particularly passionate about reducing teenage pregnancy and created two reality television shows that empowered women. There is a lot of small things I miss.. 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. Esther Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud at Arches National Park in eastern Utah. Newlyweds Esther "Essie" Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud visited the park in mid June. It's known for a series of sculpture-like fins and arches made of an orange sandstone that wind and water have eroded for centuries. 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. 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. 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 inspired around the globe. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Heres what you need to know about Esther Nakajjigo: Saving Innocence Challenge is a high school reality TV show of urban school girls empowering their rural counterparts to prevail over teenage pregnancy and keep in school. 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. The couple hiked to Delicate Arch and ate lunch in the Windows area before starting their drive out of the park. 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, the Associated Press reported. The organization was tailored toward reducing the risk of teenage pregnancy among teens. Elizabeth Chuck is a reporter for NBC News who focuses on health and mental health, particularly issues that affect women and children. 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. 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. It feels lonely, and thats hard. It claims three other people have died from similar incidents involving gates in the last 32 years. 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. . Mail that Nakajjigo has continued to receive after her death has been a stark reminder of the life they should still be enjoying together. Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her husband in Denver, where she moved to attend a leadership course on a full scholarship. 'Shadow pandemic': Women, girls bear unequal share of Covid-19 burden, U.N. official warns, National parks begin to reopen across the country. "This act of selflessness went viral throughout Uganda, and she was featured in numerous magazines and news publications. Everything reminds Michaud of Nakajjigo. At just 17, using her college tuition money, she created a nonprofit community health center. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Esther Nakajjigo. Jenkins awarded Michaud $9.5 million; Nakajjigos mother, Christine Namagembe, $700,000; and her father, John Bosco Kateregga, $350,000. Michaud hopes he and Nakajjigos family can continue her legacy. 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. November 12, 2020 / 2:34 PM DENVER -- Ludovic Michaud has notified the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service that he intends to file a wrongful death lawsuit because of a crash at the entrance to Arches National Park that claimed the life of his beloved wife, Esther Nakajjigo. She earned numerous global awards and traveled to the U.S. to further her education, the newspaper reported. Michaud, in February, told FOX 13 about the trip to the park. Posted at 10:15 PM, Nov 12, 2020 Initiative by the late @nakajjigo | https://t.co/hMEUS3a5uj pic.twitter.com/OBhxkiPqPZ, Urban Television (@UrbanTVUganda) October 25, 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. Their economic expert will testify that her death represents a. In the court documents filed in U.S. District Court in Denver, Chang described the gates as the same color as the landscape. She was best known for a reality show in Uganda that reached millions of viewers. One, Saving Innocence, depicted teenage girls from urban areas helping teen moms in rural communities go back to school. 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 is a former Uganda activist who was decapitated this summer at the Utah Arches National Park. Denver7's Lance Hernandez reports. The. "Our sympathies go out to Esther Nakajjigo's family, friends and those whose lives she impacted," Public Affairs specialist Vanessa Lacayo said in a statement. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. She was always willing to help, he said. The young activist participated in programs at Drexel University in Philadelphia as a Mandela Washington Fellow and at the Watson Institute in Boulder, Colorado as a Luff Peace Fellow, Moab Sun News said. Denver7's Lance Hernandez reports. The suit was filed last . He has since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and has struggled with flashbacks. Nelson, the government's attorney, said an appropriate award would be $3.5 million, far less than the $140 million being pursued. 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. Attorney: 'For want of an $8 padlock, woman lost life'. 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. Shed come to Colorado to learn how to bolster her business acumen at the Watson Institute in Boulder. "It could have happened to the people in front of us, or behind us," he said. Join Outside+ to get Outside magazine, access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her husband in Denver, where she moved to attend a leadership course on a full scholarship. She really loved the Denver vibe and so do I. 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. 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. At this time, I do not have more information to share.". "For how majestic these parks are, it's kind of shocking how rudimentary these gates are," she said. Please enter valid email address to continue. At just 17, using her college tuition money, she created a nonprofit community health center. Her husband was not harmed, the station added. 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. December 6, 2022 / 9:23 AM 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. Chang has filed a $270 million claim for wrongful death. 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.. The Uganda native met Michaud in June 2019 through a dating app in Aurora, Colorado, according to NBC News. At 17 years old, Nakajjigo used her college tuition money to start a nonprofit community health center, NBC News reported. First published on November 12, 2020 / 2:34 PM. She received multiple honors for her humanitarian work and was attending a leadership program in Bolder, Colorado, at the time of her death. The wind whipped a metal. 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. Her passions included lowering teen pregnancy, as well as creating two reality television shows that empowered women, the outlet reported. 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. Add a Memory 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. Michaud and Nakajjigo met over a dating app while they both had recently arrived in the Denver area. In their legal complaint, Michaud and Nakajjigos parents said the National Park Service was negligent for not maintaining the gate. The amount was far less than the $140 million Nakajjigos family originally sought. On Monday, a federal judge in Utah . What awaited them there was as awful as it was unthinkable. Nakajjigo accomplished more by age 25 than most people do in a lifetime. The park service previously issued a statement expressing sympathy to Nakajjigos family. Its still hard to concentrate, but I try to.. I didnt know who she was at first, the 26-year-old expressed to NBC News. Nakajjigo created a reality TV show that helped child mothers stay in school and develop life skills, according to The Denver Post. The metal pole forming the top of the gate pierced the passenger side of the car and struck Nakajjigo in the head and neck. Nakajjigo was a performer who used her celebrity to improve the status of women and girls in Uganda. Nakajjigo was involved in countless philanthropic endeavors. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. Please enter valid email address to continue. It could have happened to anyone and if nothing is done, its going to happen again, he said. Esther Nakajjigo, a Ugandan human rights activist, was killed in Arches National Park in Utah on June 13, 2020. Esther Nakajjigo, age 25, of Denver, Colorado passed away on Saturday June 13, 2020. For this work, the United Nations Population Fund gave her the Woman Achiever Award. Nakajjigo, who was 25 at the time, was "needlessly decapitated," according to a wrongful death administrative claim obtained by NBC News. The same year, Nakajjigo was named Uganda's ambassador for women and girls. Saving Innocence, one of the shows, depicted teenage girls from urban areas helping teen moms in rural communities go back to school, NBC News said. Shes done more at the age of 25 than most people do in their entire lives, she said. In court, Michaud described his relationship with Nakajjigo as the best time of his life., It feels lonely, and thats hard. He filed his claim October 22. I felt completely meaningless after losing Nakajjigo, he said. National parks begin to reopen across the country. Nakajjigo's younger brother John, who traveled from Uganda to the U.S. to be at the trial, told KUTV that life without his sister has been extremely tough, but he is grateful for the opportunity to be at the trial and also meet Nakajjigo's husband for the first time. They were driving toward the exit when suddenly a gust of wind lifted a metal gate and the arm swung into the roadway. 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. For this work, the United Nations Population Fund gave her the Woman Achiever Award. Instead, the Utah park became the site of a horrific accident that killed her. Sign up for service and obituary updates. 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, 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. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. The family is hoping to use money from the case to continue Essies projects. Ludovic's attorney, Deborah Chang, told Denver7 the entrance gate should have been locked open, and not allowed to swing freely. They argued that had employees installed the gate properly and secured it with an $8 padlock, Nakajjigos death could have been prevented, NBC News reported. The suit was filed last week in federal court in Denver by the widower and parents of Nakajjigo. Copyright 2020 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. What awaited them there was as awful as it was unthinkable. Attorney Randi McGinn, representing Nakajjigo's family, on Monday described the death in gruesome detail. SALT LAKE CITY A judge awarded $10.2 million to the family and spouse of Esther "Essie" Nakajjigo, who was killed by an unsecured gate at Arches National Park in 2020.. Nakajjigo, 25, a women's rights activist from Uganda, was killed when driving in Arches National Park with Ludovic "Ludo" Michaud during a camping trip on June 13, 2020. 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. Arches National Park is a 120-square-mile desert landscape near Moab, Utah, that is visited by more than 1.5 million people annually. Nakajjigo and her husband Ludovic Michaud were vacationing in eastern Utah, visiting the region's national parks months after their wedding. ARCHES NATIONAL PARK, Utah - Trial began Monday, Dec. 5 for the death of Ugandan women's activist Esther Nakajjigo, who died after a gate at Arches National Park swung open and decapitated her.The family is in federal court with a $140million-dollar wrongful lawsuit and personal claim lawsuit against the National Park Service.The U.S. already admitted responsibility for the wrongful death . Gate accidents similar to Nakajjigos have happened across the country, according to NBC News. Receive a notification when services are updated. CBS News Poll: How GOP primary race could be Trump v. Trump fatigue. IE 11 is not supported. They said claims by the family's lawyers that Nakajjigo, who was 25 at the time of her death, was on track to be a nonprofit CEO shortly were too speculative to be used as a basis for damages. The couple, who lived together in Denver, Colorado, were exiting the park on June 13 to get ice cream when a metal gate swung loose and pierced their car, the newspaper continued. After COVID-19 closures were lifted, the newlyweds took a trip to Arches National Park. Even simple tasks like cooking rice stored in a jar that Nakajjigo bought before her death feel paralyzing, he said. She founded the Princess Diana Health Center, Moab Sun News continued. The same year, Nakajjigo was. She said there was nothing that visually set them apart. "We don't know with any level of certainty what her plans were," Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nelson 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. 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 . Nakajjigo was a celebrated human rights activist in Uganda, her home country, Moab Sun News continued. Recreation areas had recently opened after pandemic-era closures and, on the edge of Arches, a metal gate normally secured with a lock was left untethered.

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