PSR attorneys Robert Glassman and Joseph O’Hanlon have taken legal action on behalf of the parents of Lamar McGlothurn, an 8-year-old boy tragically killed by a massive, decaying tree branch while attending Camp Wildcraft at King Gillette Ranch this past summer.
Claimants Madeline Eaton and Kevin Shrestha have filed government claims against the owners and operators of King Gillette Ranch, alleging they were negligent for allowing a dangerous condition of public property to exist at the campsite despite explicit and repeated warnings about the tree’s hazardous condition before Lamar’s death. Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA), the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, Camp Wildcraft and its owners Shari Davis and Benny Ferdman, and Gomez Landscape & Tree Care are named among those who are responsible.
“If kids play there, camps must inspect there,” said attorney Robert Glassman. “Public entities that operate camps at their parks, like King Gillette Ranch, can’t turn a blind eye to obvious dangerous conditions and hazards. A deadly, decaying branch hung over children’s heads, and no one acted. Lamar had to pay the ultimate price because of their indifference and inaction. We’re now fighting to make sure these entities start taking dangerous conditions in public parks and campsites seriously before ever allowing children anywhere near them again.”
On the afternoon of July 9, 2025, Camp Wildcraft attendees, including 8-year-old Lamar McGlothurn, were instructed to gather beneath the canopy of a known hazardous oak tree at King Gillette Ranch. Despite explicit warnings about previous falling branches, no action was taken to secure the area. A massive, decaying limb snapped and fatally wounded Lamar. His parents, present for pickup, tragically witnessed the death of their son.
The public entities and the Camp had long been on notice that the oak trees in the area of the park used by Camp Wildcraft were unhealthy, and this was not the first time a large branch had fallen from the same tree. In the week leading up to Lamar’s death, numerous concerns were raised by park staff and tree care employees, including:
- July 2, 2025: A large branch snapped off the same tree, prompting a request for a tree care company to address the issue immediately.
- July 3, 2025: A MRCA official acknowledged the “massive branch” that had cracked and thanked staff that “no one was seriously hurt or killed”.
- July 3, 2025: A text from a Gomez Landscape & Tree Care employee noted “all the decay at the trunk” and recommended thinning the canopy to “mitigate the risk”.
- July 9, 2025: Just six days later, another branch fell and killed Lamar McGlothurn.
Post-incident inspections by experts hired by the family’s legal team revealed significant signs of deterioration in the oak tree, including structural defects, stress signs, and internal decay that would have been visually apparent. The inspection also revealed visible signs of long-standing defects in the trunk, indicating chronic stress and physiological decline. Based on industry standards and best practices, the area around a dangerous tree should be blocked off to prevent injury. However, no one from MRCA, Camp Wildcraft, or Gomez Landscape & Tree Care took this necessary safety measure.
MRCA has 45 days from the date of filing to respond to the allegations. Should no response be filed, claimants will continue to seek justice for their son and move forward with filing a wrongful death lawsuit against all entities responsible for his death.