Family settles for millions after student killed by branch while meeting school volunteer goal

A mother from Oregon, whose son passed away while engaged in tree planting to meet his school's volunteer requirement for graduation, has reached a settlement after filing a multimillion-dollar lawsuit.

According to records reviewed by The Oregonian, Portland’s Central Catholic High School and the non-profit organisation where Christopher Kelly was volunteering, Friends of Trees, have settled with Sarah Kelly, Christopher's mother. 

She initially sued them for $29 million, though the exact settlement amount remains undisclosed.

As reported by police in a 2021 press release, Christopher died in November in Multnomah County after a "tree limb fell and hit him" at Thousand Acres Dog Park in the Sandy River Delta in Troutdale, near Portland. 

The young boy was completing mandatory volunteer work hours for his graduation from Central Catholic High School when a large branch from a black cottonwood tree, 52 feet up, descended and struck his head.

The legal complaint claims Christopher "stayed conscious" and continued his activities after the impact but passed away on-site after emergency teams arrived.

Sarah Kelly filed her lawsuit in Multnomah County Circuit Court in 2024. Her allegations were that the high school and Friends of Trees did not adequately protect students from adverse weather, despite warnings of potential thunderstorms. 

The complaint specifically stated that they failed to offer helmets to volunteers or seek shelter after thunder was heard, contrary to the recommendations of the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The documentation indicated that gusty winds and thunder were noted a mile from the planting site. 

Apparently, it revealed that some students inadequately dressed for the conditions were sheltering under a tent, and a Friends of Trees arborist retreated to her car to escape the weather. 

Christopher, a freshman, was allegedly planting with around 20 other students at the time.

"Despite efforts to save him, the young boy could not recover from his injuries," officials stated in the 2021 press release.

Christopher's obituary leads with the statement that he "passed away suddenly while volunteering."

In their response following his passing, Central Catholic conveyed, "Our community is heartbroken over the untimely passing of freshman Christopher Kelly in 2021 and continually extends our condolences to the Kelly family."

The obituary notes that Christopher was in foster care until 2010, when he was adopted by his family.

Moreover, the obituary requests contributions to aid "children with learning challenges," and encourages readers to "share a dad joke," owing to "Chris's affection for dad jokes."