Calabasas, California — Nearly one year after a tragic accident at a Southern California summer camp, the family of 8-year-old Lamar McGlothurn has secured a multimillion-dollar settlement following his death by a massive falling tree branch.

Lamar was killed on July 9, 2025, while attending Camp Wildcraft at King Gillette Ranch Park in Calabasas. A large limb—estimated at 25 to 30 feet long and weighing around 100 pounds—snapped from a decaying oak tree and crushed the boy in front of his parents, who had arrived to pick him up. Four other campers and staff were injured in the incident.

Negligence Allegations

The family’s lawsuit claimed that camp operators, the Mountain Recreation and Conservation Authority, and a landscaping company knew the tree was rotting and hazardous but failed to take adequate safety measures, such as blocking off the area or removing the dangerous limbs. Court records and the complaint highlighted prior awareness of the tree’s poor condition.

The Settlement

According to reports, the family will receive approximately $19.3 million in total. This includes around $16 million from insurers for the public agency managing the park, with the camp and landscaping company contributing an additional $3 million. The settlement resolves the wrongful death and injury claims without admission of liability.

Lamar’s death sent shockwaves through the community, prompting renewed scrutiny of safety protocols at outdoor recreational facilities, particularly regarding tree maintenance in public parks and camps.

This substantial payout aims to provide some measure of justice and financial support for Lamar’s grieving family, though no amount can replace the loss of a young life. The incident serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of rigorous safety inspections in environments where children play.