The family of a Montrose man who was fatally shot by a park ranger at Carlsbad Caverns National Park earlier this year is suing the ranger and the U.S. Department of the Interior (National Park Service) for wrongful death.
The March 21 shooting of Charles âGageâ Lorentz, 25, during a traffic stop in the New Mexico park as he was on his way home amounted to a violation of his civil rights, Lorentzâs parents Kimberly Beck and Travis Lorentz say in a federal suit filed Dec. 10. The two in July raised concerns that their sonâs death was being covered up, but said they were not going to let that happen.
Case Summary
This medical malpractice lawsuit involving an alleged shoulder dystocia injury arose under the Federal Tort Claims Act. Plaintiff s expert neurologist opined that the nerves of the subject injured baby s right arm had been completely torn away from his spinal cord, stretched, and scarred, requiring several surgeries to restore a degree of function. Experts also testified that the baby would require surgery in the future, and ongoing occupational and physical therapy for the rest of his life, to deal with permanent injuries that left him unable to use his right hand in most activities of daily living. A bench trial resulted in a judgment for plaintiff in the amount of $8.3 million, including approximately $65,000 for past medical expenses, $80,000 for future medical expenses, $2.653 million in lost earnings, $1.5 million for permanent disfigurement of his right arm, $2 million for deprivation of a normal life, and $2 million for pain, suffering, and emotional distress.