Utah Family Blames State Negligence in Boy’s Death
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SALT LAKE CITY – A Utah family is arguing the state of Utah showed negligence in the death of an 11-year-old boy who was mauled by a black bear in 2007.
Last week, the family argued before the Utah Supreme Court state workers failed to notify them their campsite in American Fork Canyon had been attacked by a bear earlier in the day. The bear returned when the family set up camp and killed the boy in the process.
The state contends since the incident occurred on federal land, state employees aren’t responsible.
A judge had twice previously dismissed the suit and it went all the way to the Utah Supreme Court.
In 2011, the family was awarded $1.95 million in a separate suite against the federal government after a judge ruled the government was 65 percent responsible for the boy’s death.