The gruesome nature of Nakajjigos death and the fact that she was a renowned Ugandan womens rights activist drew widespread attention to the case. 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. 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. 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. They said you have to lock it or its going to impale a car, so everyone knows, Chang 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. 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. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. For this work, the United Nations Population Fund gave her the Woman Achiever Award. 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. Michaud hopes he and Nakajjigos family can continue her legacy. The gate narrowly avoided Michaud, who was left covered head to toe in his wife's blood. 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. Michaud and his in-laws are asking a federal judge for $140 million. But on June 13, she and her husband needed a break from quarantine and headed toward Arches National Park in Utah. 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. 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. 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. You wouldnt able to detect it or see it.. Michaud was not injured in the accident, but he was covered head-to-toe in his wifes blood. 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. 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. First published on November 12, 2020 / 2:34 PM. Esther Nakajjigo, a native of Uganda, accomplished more at age 25 than most do in a lifetime. He has since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and has struggled with flashbacks. 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. What if they had gone on a different day, or left at a different time? I didnt know who she was at first, Michaud, 26, told NBC News in his first interview since Nakajjigos death. The ongoing trial will largely focus on determining the damages that may go to her family and Michaud. Theres a newsletter that went out to all the parks and the National Park Service that warned of this decades ago. 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. 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. Courtesy Ludovic Michaud Nakajjigo. 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. FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. Michaud, Nakajjigo's husband, spoke about the intense trauma he's endured since his wife's death, including sleeplessness, nightmares and suicidal ideation. 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. 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.. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Denver7's Lance Hernandez reports. The 25-year-old human rights activist and newlywed wife. 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. 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. Join Outside+ to get Outside magazine, access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. "I'll respond as soon as I'm able," Jenkins said. NBC wrote that Nakajjigo 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, Colo., where she was the recipient of a Luff Peace Fellowship., Michaud, originally of France, was uninjured in the accident, but, according to NBCs report, has since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder., Donate to the newsroom now. I know all the parks around Moab Its one of my favourite places in the US, if not my favourite place.. The wind whipped a metal gate round which sliced through the passenger door of the car and decapitated Esther. The ruling was. The wind whipped a metal. Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Nakajjigo, 25, was a Ugandan human rights activist and moved to Colorado in 2019 to attend the Watson Institute in Boulder. Its still hard to concentrate, but I try to.. The United Nations Population Fund awarded her a Woman Achiever Award," the claim states. 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. 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. During the trials opening statements in December, Nakajjigo was described as a pearl beyond price with limitless potential. dvelopper et amliorer nos produits et services. 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. 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. By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's. The family of a woman beheaded by a metal gate in front of her husband at a national park has launched a lawsuit for $140million (115m). minutes. The. 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. 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.". 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. The smaller projection takes into account only the averages of a statistical black woman, she said; while the higher projections factor in that Nakajjigo was a real, extraordinary person. I found her really interesting. The United States will pay more than $10 million in damages over the death of Esther Nakajjigo, a prominent . I couldnt work properly for a couple of months. 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.. A cruise employee has had his contract terminated after he was allegedly seen filming women from a female bathroom. One of his regrets is not saying, "I love you," one more time. This photo was taken in the hours before a gate swung into the couple's car, killing Nakajjigo. 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. At age 17, Nakajjigo was recognized by the United Nations for her work for women, according to the claim. 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. Matthew McConaugheys wife was among the passengers on board a Lufthansa flight struck by severe turbulence and has described the chaos. The gate had been left unlatched against federal policy for two weeks prior to the tragic accident in June 2020. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. 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Esther Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludovic Michaud, pose at Arches National Park on June 13, 2020. Esther Nakajjigo (credit: Ludovic Michaud). Nakajjigo was killed instantly. Our mission is to make sure this doesnt happen again, the husband of Esther Nakajjigo told NBC News in an exclusive interview. 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(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. Here's what lawmakers have directed schools to do, Can't take statins? Later, his chin trembled as Nelson delivered the government's apology. 45 Join Insider . Mail that Nakajjigo has continued to receive after her death has been a stark reminder of the life they should still be enjoying together. This photo was taken in the hours before a gate swung into the couple's car, killing Nakajjigo. "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. It impaled their car and decapitated Nakajjigo. 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. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. The metal gate at Arches National Park, normally secured with a lock, was left untethered. Monday's closing arguments focused heavily on the differences in testimony made by several economic experts, two of whom projected that Nakajjigo would have earned at least $9 million in her lifetime and the third who estimated Nakajjigo would have made between about $750,000 and $938,000. Elizabeth Chuck is a reporter for NBC News who focuses on health and mental health, particularly issues that affect women and children. All times AEDT (GMT +11). Arches National Park is a 120-square-mile desert landscape near Moab, Utah, that is visited by more than 1.5 million people annually. 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.". 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. 'Shadow pandemic': Women, girls bear unequal share of Covid-19 burden, U.N. official warns, National parks begin to reopen across the country. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax One time it was the delivery of her Social Security card; another time, an update on her immigration status. 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. Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludovic Michaud, were vacationing in eastern Utah, visiting the regions national parks months after their wedding. Our mission is to make sure this doesnt happen again, Michaud said. Nothing we can say makes up for your loss. What if he hadn't suggested the trip to Arches? Sign up today. 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. 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. Chang expects to file the lawsuit in about six months. 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. 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. Esther "Essie" Nakajjigo's husband and parents initially filed a $270 million claim against the National Park Service in 2021 over her death 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. Newlyweds Esther "Essie" Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud visited the park in mid June. She was particularly passionate about reducing teenage pregnancy and created two reality television shows that empowered women. Though the amount was substantially less than pursued, attorneys representing the family of Esther Nakajjigo celebrated the judgement . 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 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. Jenkins awarded Michaud $9.5 million; Nakajjigos mother, Christine Namagembe, $700,000; and her father, John Bosco Kateregga, $350,000. "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 tragic accident is now the subject of a wrongful death lawsuit Michaud and Nakajjigo's family are pursuing, in which they argue that the U.S. Park Service was negligent and did not maintain . 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. 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. What awaited them there was as awful as it was unthinkable. 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 tragic accident is now the subject of a wrongful death lawsuit Michaud and Nakajjigo's family are pursuing, in which they argue that the U.S. Park Service was negligent and did not maintain . 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 . 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. / CBS Colorado. "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. Si vous souhaitez personnaliser vos choix, cliquez sur Grer les paramtres de confidentialit. They had wanted three children. All rights reserved. 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. 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. Recreation areas had recently opened after pandemic-era closures and . 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. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. We dont know with any level of certainty what her plans were, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nelson said. 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. On Monday, a federal judge in Utah ruled that the U.S. government must pay her family more than $10 million in damages. 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. 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. Nakajjigo created a reality TV show that helped child mothers stay in school and develop life skills, according to The Denver Post. 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. 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. 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. Mr Michaud and Ms Nakajjigos family have filed a lawsuit in a US court accusing the National Park Service of negligence, Fox 13 reports. 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. SALT LAKE CITY Ludovic "Ludo" Michaud has tortured himself with a lot of "what ifs?" For this work, the United Nations Population Fund gave her the Woman Achiever Award. A newlywed Denver couple's road trip to Arches National Park in Utah this summer ended in . For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. The suit was filed last. 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 Nakajjigo was. I felt completely meaningless after losing Nakajjigo, he said. 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. Ludovic Michaud was driving around the scenic red rock landscapes of Utah's Arches National Park on a windy spring day in 2020 when something unthinkable happened: A metal gate whipped around,. 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. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. Even simple tasks like cooking rice stored in a jar that Nakajjigo bought before her death feel paralyzing, he said. 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. 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 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. 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.