Overview
- A large branch fell at a summer camp at King Gillette Ranch on July 9, 2025, killing 8-year-old Lamar McGlothurn and injuring several campers and adults.
- Documents and reporting show a settlement was signed that resolves civil claims by the family and other victims and that totals $19.3 million across all claimants.
- Major outlets disagree on the family’s share: the Los Angeles Times reports the family will receive about $16 million from insurers plus roughly $3 million from other defendants, while SFGATE reports $14.65 million will go to the parents with $4.65 million for other claimants.
- Lawsuit filings and internal staff texts reviewed by reporters indicate park staff and contractors raised prior concerns about the tree’s health and that another branch had fallen before the fatal collapse, and the family’s lawyer called the death entirely preventable.
- The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority issued a statement expressing sorrow, and the settlement is likely to sharpen scrutiny of park tree maintenance, insurer payments, and calls for greater transparency and safety oversight.