A Calabasas family accepted a $14 million settlement after 8-year-old Lamar McGlothurn was killed by a falling tree limb at King Gillette Ranch. Records show the tree had been flagged as decayed a week before the incident.
has accepted a settlement of more than after their 8-year-old son was killed by a falling oak limb at King Gillette Ranch. The payout resolves wrongful-death claims tied to a summer camp gathering at the Santa Monica Mountains site. According to , the family agreed to the terms on April 24, 2026. The settlement names the and other defendants.
The boy, Lamar McGlothurn, died on July 9, 2025. A heavy oak limb snapped and crashed into picnic tables where campers, parents and staff were gathered. Several other people were injured in the collapse. Camp Wildcraft had moved some of its summer activities to King Gillette Ranch because of earlier fire damage at its usual site.
Public records show that park staff and a contracted tree crew flagged the oak as decayed on July 2, 2025. That was one week before the accident. CBS Los Angeles reported that emails and texts showed discussions about removing or thinning larger limbs. A master arborist told CBS LA that standard industry practice when a tree shows visible structural defects is to block off nearby areas. Picnic tables and other likely targets should be moved until the hazard is addressed.
Parents Madeline Eaton and Kevin Shrestha were represented by the law firm Panish | Shea | Ravipudi. The firm says it filed government claims naming the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, Camp Wildcraft and Gomez Landscape & Tree Care as defendants. Independent inspections hired by the family’s lawyers documented internal decay and prior limb losses. The attorneys contend the collapse was preventable rather than a freak accident.
The MRCA said it commissioned an external investigation. The agency stated it would "respond appropriately" while inquiries continued, according to reporting by the Los Angeles Times. The agreement resolves this family’s pending claims. It has also refocused local attention on how aging oaks are inspected and monitored on public grounds.
"The settlement highlights a broader need for clearer tree-management and safety protocols at parks and other sites used by youth programs."
— Attorneys for the family, according to Panish | Shea | Ravipudi
This story will be updated if court filings or official statements reveal further details about the settlement or any policy changes by the MRCA.
This article was generated with AI assistance.