The parents of 8-year-old Lamar have been awarded nearly 15 million USD in a settlement after their son died from a falling tree branch at Camp Wildcraft in Los Angeles. The camp and its operator were accused of negligence, having known about decayed oak branches and previous branch falls, yet allowing children to gather under the hazardous tree.
The settlement, reported on 2/7, totals 14.65 million USD. The Mountain Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA), which operates the camp, will bear the majority of this amount, paying over 14.35 million USD.
The tragic incident occurred on 9/7/2025, a day etched into the memory of Lamar's parents. They were at Camp Wildcraft to pick up their son when an oak branch unexpectedly fell, striking the boy directly in front of them.
According to lawsuit documents, the dangerous condition of the tree, characterized by decay and falling branches, had been a recurring issue. The campsite had received warnings, and a local landscape design unit had even recommended a comprehensive review of the trees in the area. However, the summer camp failed to act on these recommendations.
Just one week before the fatal incident, another branch fell from the very same oak tree. A camp employee subsequently expressed concern about the tree's deteriorated condition in an email sent to the MRCA. The employee wrote, "The tree is too decayed; it's best to prune the canopy and reduce the weight at the top to limit risk." The lawsuit claims that the MRCA's response to these concerns was inadequate. The employee further stated in the email, "The branch was really big, luckily no one was hurt. Thank you very much for handling this. I wouldn't be able to sleep knowing that branch was just waiting to fall."
Lamar's parents filed a lawsuit against the MRCA, Camp Wildcraft, the managing company, the farm, and a local tree care company. The lawsuit alleges that camp staff were aware of the dangerous, decaying branches but still directed groups of young children to play, draw, and rest directly under the tree.
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Rescue vehicles at the scene after the incident. Photo: Local 12
The family's lawyer stated, "When dangerous conditions exist on public property, families deserve answers, transparency, and specific action." Lamar's family hopes this case will compel parks to enhance safety measures, preventing similar tragedies for other families.
Camp Wildcraft describes itself as an "art and nature summer camp," with a mission to "nurture curious, creative, caring, and confident children," according to its website.
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