SACRAMENTO – Two families have filed a suit after their decedents were killed when camping at Yosemite National Park.
Daniel and Grace Kim, Hannah Kim (a minor through her guardian Grace Kim), and Francis and Vivian Lee filed a complaint on Nov. 2 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California against U.S. Secretary of the Interior, U.S. National Park Service, Yosemite National Park and Does 1-20 alleging wrongful death and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
According to the complaint, Dragon Kim and Justin Lee were lawfully camping on Aug. 14, 2015, in Yosemite National Park, when a large oak limb fell on their tent while they were sleeping. The suit states both died as a result of the trauma sustained in the incident.
The plaintiffs hold U.S. Secretary of the Interior, U.S. National Park Service, Yosemite National Park and Does 1-20 responsible because the defendants allegedly failed to put up a warning sign or barrier in the area of the tree, failed to inspect/maintain the premises where the subject large oak tree was planted and failed to make the area safe for visitors.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek judgment against defendants, general damages, costs of suit, medical expenses, funeral and burial expenses and further relief as the court may deem proper. They are represented by Thomas V. Girardi, James G. O'Callahan and Kelly Christina Winter of Girardi/Keese in Los Angeles.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California Case number 1:16-cv-01656