National Park Service settles $1 million Bandelier wrongful death lawsuit

SANTA FE N.M. – An Illinois family settled a wrongful death lawsuit with the National Park Service.

According to the Albuquerque Journal, the family of Beverly Modlin will receive $1 million from the lawsuit. Modlin, a grandmother, was killed by a falling tree as she was getting to her car at Bandelier National Monument in 2016.

The family claims the park knew about tree damage stemming from a lightning strike. A spokesman stated the Park Service has changed its protocols for how they monitor trees.

The lawsuit was filed in 2019.