Central Catholic High School and the volunteer nonprofit Friends of Trees have agreed to pay $29 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the family of 14-year-old Christopher Kelly, who was killed when part of a tree fell during a school volunteer planting trip. Court records show the deal was reached in February, shutting down a trial that had been set for later this month in Multnomah County. Local outlets first reported the settlement paperwork on April 10.
According to The Oregonian, the filings say Central Catholic and Friends of Trees have already paid more than $1.2 million in attorneys’ fees connected to the case. The settlement itself comes with additional terms the parties have not made public.
The lawsuit traces back to a November 6, 2021, volunteer planting event at the Sandy River Delta near Troutdale, where Kelly, a Central Catholic freshman, was earning required service hours. The complaint and local reporting say dozens of volunteers were on site when the weather turned, some sheltering under a tent while others kept planting, and Kelly was hit by a falling tree section and died at the scene.
What the Complaint Alleges
Kelly’s mother accused organizers of pushing ahead with outdoor work despite thunder and strong wind warnings and of failing to follow National Weather Service guidance that people should seek safe shelter when thunder is heard. The filings say a roughly 52-foot section of a black cottonwood snapped off and struck Kelly, and that volunteers were neither moved to sturdier shelter nor given helmets before or during the worsening conditions. These allegations were outlined in local coverage of the court documents.
Settlement and Reaction
The Oregonian reports that lawyers reached the settlement in February, avoiding a jury trial in Multnomah County Circuit Court. Friends of Trees representative Megan Ferris declined to comment, citing a confidentiality agreement, and Portland attorney Kimberly Weingart also declined to discuss details of the agreement, the outlet noted. Central Catholic previously issued a brief statement saying the community remained “deeply saddened” by Kelly’s death, according to earlier local reporting.
Why It Matters Locally
The case has thrown a spotlight on safety rules at large volunteer plantings and on the risks posed by certain tree species in high winds, landing right in the middle of ongoing debates about how Portland handles its urban-forest work. Friends of Trees has long partnered on big tree-planting efforts across the metro area, OPB has reported, which helps explain why this tragedy has echoed far beyond a single school community.
For context on the legal fees, typical contingency arrangements in civil cases often give plaintiff attorneys about one-third of any recovery, according to legal reference guides. With this settlement finalized, the courtroom fight is over, but the local pressure on schools and volunteer groups to spell out and enforce strict storm-safety protocols for outdoor events is only likely to grow.
