Deseret News | Family sues in '07 bear incident

Reader comments
Family sues in '07 bear incident

Bob G | 4:23 a.m. March 29, 2008

Although a tragic loss, the parents should he held liable for their inactions and thoughts to the safety of themselves and their family. There have been numerous reports for many years about the rise in wildlife in Utah and the wildlife in their habitat is not under the control of any department or person. Growth of an area devestates wildlife habitat that has been used for millenia for them to live on. Maybe we need to do like the whiteman did to the indians, put wildlife on reservations too with forced subsistance living. Or we could learn to live with the wildlife and have some respect for it. But that doesn't seem to be an option with developers, planners, and government in Utah.

What? | 5:33 a.m. March 29, 2008

I am sorry for your loss. And I have nothing but contempt for you for filing suit. You go into the wilds to enjoy nature, and you got closer in a very unfortunate way. Sorry, but you may need to accept the fact that the back country can still be a dangerous place. What's next, suing someone when you swim with sharks and get eaten?

Mahonri | 7:19 a.m. March 29, 2008

Death is just a part of the natural outdoor experience. These people are suing for one reason: greed. Government can't protect you from everything. You went camping. Bears live in the wild. It is just your tough luck and is a natural occurance.

Comments continue below

Anonymous | 8:14 a.m. March 29, 2008

I am surprised that they do not want 20 million in grief money

Dot | 8:18 a.m. March 29, 2008

This is such a sad story but any amount of money isn't going to change anything. Sam's death has already caused changes in policy so going forward, there will be more info about bear activity. Money isn't the answer to anything and doesn't make you feel any better. Forgiveness is a better answer and makes more people feel better in the process.

Realist | 8:20 a.m. March 29, 2008

I am dumbfounded as to why taxpayers and government are in any way responsible for this terrible and unexpected tragedy. I am truly sorry for this family's loss. Had they contracted giardia from contaminated water while camping in an undeveloped forest area also make the government responsible for this?

They were in bear country. Unfortunately so are bears. This incident demonstrated very unusual animal behavior that was probably exacerbated by other ignorant campers over time. Why this particular black bear became agressive can be debated. However only at the point of the mountain in Draper is the government responsible to manage deviant animal behavior.

I'll call it like it is and say this is another stupid Utah county get-rich-quick scheme! The government was NOT responsible for this bear's agressive behavior.

TOO MANY LAWSUITS | 8:34 a.m. March 29, 2008

If you knew that there was an attack the night before why on earth would you go back? I am sorry for the families loss, but filing a lawsuit is just rediculous. There are too many people these days that use their families as leverage. If someone dies they dig up everything they can to get rich over the situation.

Change the system! | 8:45 a.m. March 29, 2008

The only way systems change within big organiztions is if someone applies some pressure, I completely agree with the law suit. Forest rangers could have done more. The family should have been told that a bear came through a tent the night before. All the campers in the area should have been warned. When I have camped at Yellowstone before they always let us know when bears were in the area. Someone dropped the ball in this situation. The bear should have been delt with allready. When a bear isn't scared of humans they become dangerous, there were plenty of signs that they had a dangerous bear on their hands. Why not put an end to a problem before it happens and not wait until tragedy occurs. The camper that had the bear claw through his tent the night before would probably tell you that the bear was dangerous.

Jan F | 9:10 a.m. March 29, 2008

I have great sympathy for your loss. I agree that the authorities should have at the very least, posted a warning about the bear. However, suing the government is a little like suing yourself isn't it? Having lost a daughter, I know there is nothing that can bring her back and no amount of money can compensate for the loss.

CA | 9:23 a.m. March 29, 2008

A lawsuit like this in CA does one thing - shut down the campground. The forest service is understaffed and underfunded already. Why would they leave themselves (or us the taxpayers) liable to a lawsuit from an act they couldn't control? Next time you pull into a campground and the gates are locked it could be because a bear was spotted wihtin a 10 mile radius.

Ludicrous | 9:30 a.m. March 29, 2008

This is despicable. Now we expect the government to protect us from bears when we go into the bears' home? Give me a break!

Reader | 9:34 a.m. March 29, 2008

Sorry, family, for your loss, but that is the risk you take when you camp in the home territory of bears. You should know that. Is the government supposed to coddle and babysit you and hold your hand through every aspect of life? This lawsuit is nothing more than trying to score a payday from taxpayers.

GrandmaB | 9:36 a.m. March 29, 2008

The community has rallied around this family in dedicating various benches, etc, in Sam's name. I think it is really sad that now his greedy parents and an attorney (that is looking for job security) will now have this attached to the innocent little boy's name. Forgiveness would have been more appropriate for all of us to have remembered Sam by.

Neutral ground | 10:59 a.m. March 29, 2008

It is neutral ground out there. Humans need to protect themselves in such cases of intruding, mischievous, hungry bears. Pack an equalizer for protection. A 44 Magnum would do or something like it. Firearm training is on the wain however so if you carry, be trained. Safety is what this is all about people, never lawsuits.

Correction | 11:43 a.m. March 29, 2008

The article and comments keep referring to the "campground." The location they CHOSE to camp was not in a managed campground. While a tragic story, it seems they chose to camp in an unmanaged area for the very qualities they're now sueing over.

Correction is Correct | 12:44 p.m. March 29, 2008

If I remember correctly, the family camped in an unincorporated campground. They choose to do so.

Secondly, I seem to remember that there was food in the tent or nearby. That would be the fault of the campers.

Sad situation, but this lawsuit is purely greed.I hope a judge who has a brain sees it as such.

MAYHEM MIKE | 12:57 p.m. March 29, 2008

As an attorney, I'm outraged that this family, in their greed, would file a suit against me, you, and all other taxpayers. Any amount awarded doesn't come from "the government," but from all of US. This family "assumed the risk" when they camped in the wilds. Did they believe they were visiting Disneyland? Did they think the bears were from Country Jamboree? Will their suit somehow eradicate all potentially dangerous wildlife from campsites? What if their child had been killed by a rattlesnake? Would their suit still be justified? If snakes are spotted at a campsite, does the government have a duty to warn campers? Shameful!

unbelievable | 2:41 p.m. March 29, 2008

I agree with 'change the system'. Unfortunately in our current society the way to get things changed is to sue the government. It sounded fromm the parents statement that they had taken the proper precautions. If the forest service had just warned people this could have been avoided and I am just dumbfounded that campers weren't warned. I also can't beleive the lack of support and understanding of why this lawsuit was filed... come on people, most inteligent adults understand that this is how our system works at this time in history. That is truly the sad part to his story.

Idiotic Comment | 4:01 p.m. March 29, 2008

I was amazed at the idiotic statemtent made in the article concerning one of the reasons they decided to sue. They stated that after reporting they thought their son was abducted, the police officers escorted them out of the camp site and used police tape to tape off the area. They were outraged this hadnt been done before from the previous bear sighting. The reason why is because they reported a CRIME and the CRIME SCENE was secured for detectives to look for evidence. An animal sighting is not a crime and not handled the same way. How would these geniuses propose they tape off the bears territory that is measured in miles?

Idiot Attorney | 4:17 p.m. March 29, 2008

I despise any attourney that would take such a case. That impudent individual leading this cause should be ashamed of himself. I agree that the death is a tragedy, but for my tax dollars having to pay for this families misfortune is more than I can handle. This is as rediculous as the old lady who sued McDonalds for spilling hot coffee on her. Come on lawyers, quit being so outragous.

Interesting | 5:51 p.m. March 29, 2008

As sad as this story ends the family will probably win this lawsuit...anytime you have a child involed they get what ever they ask for ....Maybe next time these campers who had done this for most of there lives will stick to the rules and not go off the trail...Money will make this situation all better...

Just wondering... | 7:41 p.m. March 29, 2008

If, as the family states, they are filing these lawsuits to change the policy, then just file papers and work to change the policy. Just wondering why you would tack a two million dollar payoff to your request for a policy change. I sympathize with the family. I know the pain of losing a son. I also know that outrageous lawsuits do nothing but cheapen the memory of your dear son.

lBob Tait | 9:45 p.m. March 29, 2008

My heart goes out the the family who lost their child. However I fail to see any healing in placing blame for the tragedy on anyone except themselves. It seems to me that caution and reason were absent when the family chose to stay in an area where it was known there was potential danger from this or any other wild animal. It's called personal responsibility.

Privatize | 9:56 p.m. March 29, 2008

I think the legislature should privatize DWR. Then all the problems will go away.

Add your comment

Comments are monitored. Any comments found to be abusive, offensive, off-topic, misrepresentative, more than 200 words or containing URLs will not be posted.

Words Remaining

E-mail address: For internal use only. We may want to contact you to publish your comment (not your e-mail address) in the newspaper or for a separate story idea.