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An eight-year-old boy, Lamar McGlothurn, tragically died when a decaying tree branch fell on him at Camp Wildcraft in the Santa Monica Mountains. His parents, Madeline Eaton and Kevin Shrestha, witnessed the incident as they arrived for pickup, according to legal filings.
The legal action, led by attorneys Robert Glassman and Joe O’Hanlon, claims that the owners and operators of King Gillette Ranch, where the camp is located, were negligent. The lawsuit alleges that the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA), the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, Camp Wildcraft, and Gomez Landscape & Tree Care failed to address the hazardous condition of the oak tree, despite repeated warnings about its dangerous state.
The Acorn reports that the oak tree had been flagged for its hazardous condition, with previous incidents of falling branches. Despite this, no action was taken to secure the area or prevent children from gathering beneath it. A post-incident inspection revealed significant signs of decay and structural defects in the tree.
Attorney Robert Glassman stated, "Public entities that operate camps at their parks, like King Gillette Ranch, can’t turn a blind eye to obvious dangerous conditions and hazards." The MRCA has 45 days to respond to the claims, after which the family may proceed with a wrongful death lawsuit if no action is taken.