The family of a man gored to death by a mountain goat in Olympic National Park a year ago has sued the National Park Service for wrongful death, arguing the park staff knew the animal was a danger to hikers but failed to do anything about it.
Bob Boardman, of Port Angeles, Washington, was gored Oct. 16, 2010, on a trail near
Klahhane Ridge some 17 miles south of Port Angeles. The 63-year-old was protecting other hikers from a goat, estimated at 370 pounds, when it gored him in the thigh and then reportedly stood over him as he bled to death.
The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Tacoma, Washington, after the Interior Department earlier this fall rejected a $10 million wrongful death claim brought by Mr. Boardman's wife, Susan Chadd, and stepson, Jacob Haverfield.
"Our investigation of Mr. Boardman’s death found that the Park Service knew this animal was dangerous, documented that this animal was dangerous, and a clear threat to hikers and Park Service staff for nearly four years,” said John Messina, lead attorney on the case with the Tacoma, Washington, law firm of Messina Bulzomi Christensen. "The Park Service failed to follow its own policies to remove dangerous animals from the park. Their failure to act and either remove or kill this animal according to park policy contributed to Mr. Boardman’s preventable death.”
Mr. Messina also noted in a release posted on the law firm's website that Olympic National Park staff have in the past killed animals, such as elk, that posed a threat to the public.
An investigation into the park's handling of the case by the law firm turned up documentation that the goat, known locally as "Klahhane Billy," had established a pattern of "aggressive behavior towards Park Service employees, experienced hikers, Boy Scout troops, (and) families with children."
While the park staff took various approaches to instill a fear of humans into the goat, including shooting bean bags at it and paint balls so it could be tracked, none worked, the law firm alleged. "At one point in 2009, the Park Service discussed more aggressive steps to protect the public from the goat, yet failed to follow through."
The law firm has requested a bench trial.
Comments
This is just strange. The nanny state wants the NPS to enforce parks as if they are zoos. Remove goats who are acting wild, kill mountain lions for getting close to campgrounds, and shoot bears for using their natural instincts by protecting their young. I'm not naive and I understand that a lot of our parks aren't WILD anymore, but they are the closest thing to wild that we have, and people need to realize that before they step foot in these places. Yes, the National Park Service administers these sites, but when will this era of people not taking personal responsibilty end? Fall of the rim of the Grand Canyon? Sue the Park Service. You slept with food in your tent at the Tetons and got attacked by a bear? Sue the Park Service. Get gored by a goat while hiking at Olympic? Sue the Park Service! Wild animals and wild places are unpredictable and visitors to national parks need to understand that before they set foot in one.
I hope to go to Yosemite next summer. If so, and anyone in my party dies while climbing Half Dome, I intend to sue to the NPS for $10 mill. The US government knows its a danger and keeps it opened. You have been so warned of this impending lawsuit.
According to witnesses, this mountain goat approached the party Mr. Boardman was with and, after he told the others to go on down the trail, it came after him. It doesn't sound like he went out of his way to encounter the goat or acted irresponsibly.
Both sides will get a chance to tell their version of the incident before a judge. Until then, it might be premature to belittle this incident.
COMPLETELY Agree with the first post from ananymous!!!! Perfectly stated! Thank. You. Exactly!
Yeah, I'm sorry, no one likes anyone to die in the National Parks for any reason, but I will stand up for the residents everyday of the week. I feel very sorry for this man and his family. But I sign up for the same deal everytime I venture outside the house. This world is filled with the things that can and will get you killed. I don't believe in corporal punishment for humans or other animals. The only possible fault of the Park Service is failure to warn visitors of the potential danger, but not failure to remove the animal.
Of course the goat "was dangerous"; it's a WILD ANIMAL! Want to avoid the inherent dangers of the wilderness? Stay home! What happened to this man is a shame; what his wife is doing is shameful.
If you go to a National Park, remember this is not a zoo. If you are not prepared to encounter wild, possibly dangerous animals, DON'T GO. The man went to the goats 'home', not the other way around. I have been to many National Parks. I don't blame the Park Service.
I got poison ivy at sleeping bear dunes. NPS didnt warn me. Can I sue for the cost of Calamine lotion?