SALT LAKE CITY — A federal judge has ruled the U.S. Forest Service was negligent and has awarded $1.9 million to the family of a boy killed by a black bear in American Fork Canyon nearly four years ago.
The trial was held in February, by a judge and not a jury. The judge took several weeks before issuing a verdict.
That decision was handed down Tuesday afternoon, and Judge Dale Kimball found the U.S. Government, the Forest Service in particular, is liable for the death of Sam Ives.
Sam was camping with his mother, brother and stepfather in American Fork Canyon on the night of June 17, 2007. In the middle of the night, a black bear ripped through the boy's tent and dragged him away. His body was found a couple of hours later.
A fatal attack by a black bear was unheard of in Utah before this tragic incident. But as it turned out, a problem bear had been in the same area where the family was camping earlier in the day.
more Judge awards family $1.9M in 2007 bear attack that killed boy - ksl.com
The trial was held in February, by a judge and not a jury. The judge took several weeks before issuing a verdict.
That decision was handed down Tuesday afternoon, and Judge Dale Kimball found the U.S. Government, the Forest Service in particular, is liable for the death of Sam Ives.
Sam was camping with his mother, brother and stepfather in American Fork Canyon on the night of June 17, 2007. In the middle of the night, a black bear ripped through the boy's tent and dragged him away. His body was found a couple of hours later.
A fatal attack by a black bear was unheard of in Utah before this tragic incident. But as it turned out, a problem bear had been in the same area where the family was camping earlier in the day.
more Judge awards family $1.9M in 2007 bear attack that killed boy - ksl.com