We are following the heartbreaking treefall incident at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas, where an 8-year-old boy tragically died yesterday after a large oak tree branch collapsed during a summer camp activity.
According to the Los Angeles Times and KTLA, the group had gathered under the tree for shade near the end of the day when the massive branch—measuring 25 to 30 feet long and weighing several hundred pounds—snapped and fell.
News outlets reported that the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Fire Department responded to the scene around 3 p.m. in the 26000 block of Mulholland Highway. In addition to the young boy who later died at a nearby hospital, four others were injured: an 11-year-old girl who suffered a broken leg and was airlifted to a hospital, a 5-year-old boy with a head injury, a 22-year-old man with bruises, and a 73-year-old man who sustained a concussion.
The camp, known as Camp Wildcraft, operates on land managed by the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, which has expressed a commitment to fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation. L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath also issued a statement of support and condolences, saying, “My heart is with everyone impacted by this tragic situation.”
At Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the families affected by this unimaginable loss. Our firm is actively monitoring this case because of our extensive experience handling serious injuries and fatalities resulting from tree falls.
Our firm represents the wife and four children of a man who was killed in November 2021, when a massive, end-heavy branch from a eucalyptus tree collapsed onto his vehicle in Ventura. Our investigation revealed that the branch was in a hazardous condition, with multiple visible defects that posed a significant risk to the public. GBW’s Ivan Puchalt and Jenna Edzant recently secured a $16 million settlement from the City of Ventura and an additional $3 million from the tree trimming company responsible for maintaining the tree.
Previously, GBW partners Browne Greene and Ivan Puchalt obtained a $7.67 million jury verdict in San Diego in a significant premises liability case against the City of San Diego.
The case stemmed from a tragic incident on December 21, 2013, when a 60-foot palm tree located on public property fell and struck the plaintiff, crushing his legs and leaving him paraplegic. The jury found the city liable for failing to properly inspect and maintain the tree, which was in a hazardous condition.
Our trial team secured a $2.2 million settlement on behalf of a KGTV Channel 10 news reporter who was seriously injured when an eucalyptus tree fell on her while she was covering storm damage in San Diego.
GBW’s Ivan Puchalt recovered a $2 million settlement on behalf of a client who was seriously injured when a city-owned tree fell and struck them in Los Angeles.
While falling trees may seem like unforeseen acts of nature, they are often preventable with proper inspection and maintenance. Property owners, including public agencies, have a legal duty to ensure trees on their land do not pose a risk to others. Puchalt has written extensively about this topic: https://www.gbw.law/blog/2020/march/attorney-ivan-puchalt-authors-law-com-article-on/
If you or someone you love has been harmed by a falling tree, contact GBW to learn how we can help you seek justice.