Family of boy, 8, killed by falling tree gets huge sum from California city after text messages emerged

The family of an 8-year-old California boy killed by a massive tree branch that crushed a summer camp class has secured a large majority of a $19.3 million settlement after newly revealed text messages suggested concerns about the tree were raised just one day before the tragedy.

Lamar McGlothurn was killed on July 9, 2025 when a towering oak limb snapped and crashed onto campers gathered beneath its shade at Camp Wildcraft at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas.

The settlement resolves a negligence lawsuit against the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA), which manages the 588-acre Camp Wildcraft, and Gomez Landscape & Tree Care.

Under the agreement, insurers for the MRCA will pay about $16 million, while insurers for the camp and landscaping company will contribute roughly $3 million, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The lawsuit alleged officials failed to address dangerous conditions despite prior warnings and pointed to communications showing concerns about the tree before the fatal fall.

Among the evidence cited were text messages sent by an employee of the tree care company the day before Lamar was killed.

“It is somewhat concerning seeing all the decay at the trunk. It would be wise to thin the canopy and alleviate end weight at a minimum to mitigate risk,” the employee wrote.

Attorneys for Lamar’s family argued the disaster could have been avoided.

“This tragedy was entirely preventable,” attorney Robert Glassman said in a statement. “When dangerous conditions exist on public property, families deserve answers, transparency, and action.”

The horrifying incident unfolded during an afternoon activity at the summer camp after children gathered beneath the sprawling oak tree to escape the summer heat.

Witnesses reported hearing a loud cracking sound moments before a branch measuring between 25 and 30 feet long broke free and plunged onto the group. Authorities previously said the limb weighed hundreds of pounds.

Emergency crews rushed to King Gillette Ranch on Mulholland Highway shortly before 3 p.m. Deputies and firefighters found multiple victims trapped or injured beneath the fallen branch.

Lamar was airlifted to a nearby hospital but died from blunt-force injuries, according to the Ventura County Medical Examiner.

Four others were also hurt in the branch collapse.

An 11-year-old girl suffered a broken leg and was flown to the hospital, while a 5-year-old boy sustained cuts and a head laceration. A 22-year-old man was treated for bruises and injuries to his head and arm, and a 73-year-old man suffered a concussion.

The camp had been relocated to King Gillette Ranch for the 2025 summer season after its previous site was affected by the devastating Palisades Fire.

Following the tragedy, Lamar’s family filed suit alleging defendants ignored warning signs, including prior discussions about hazardous tree limbs. The complaint also claimed another branch had fallen at the camp before the deadly incident.

The settlement provides $14.65 million to Lamar’s parents, while the remaining $4.65 million will be divided among six other people injured in the collapse.

In a statement released after the agreement, the MRCA expressed sympathy for the family.

“We at the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority cannot fathom the immense loss and tremendous pain the family of Lamar McGlothurn has endured from Lamar’s tragic death,” an agency spokesperson said. “We hope this settlement will, in some small way, bring solace to the McGlothurn family.”

The agreement brings the family’s legal battle to a close nearly a year after the heartbreaking accident, though it cannot undo the loss of a young boy whose day at summer camp ended in an unimaginable tragedy.

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