The family of Jack Loso, a 19-year-old college student killed in a landslide near Mankato, filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the state of Minnesota on Monday in Blue Earth County District Court.
The lawsuit accuses the Department of Natural Resources of failing to warn visitors about the severe risk of landslides at Minneopa State Park. The lawsuit also accuses the DNR of maintaining stairs, paths and signs encouraging visitors to gather directly underneath the park’s waterfalls.
Loso, a student at Minnesota State Mankato, visited the park with his sister and cousin on Dec. 2, 2023. He walked down a trail to the base of the lower waterfall, and then the sandstone cliff above him collapsed and buried him.
Minneopa State Park is a 58-acre recreational area just outside of Mankato with two waterfalls.
“This was an easily preventable tragedy,” said Jeffrey Storms, a Minneapolis-based lawyer representing the Loso family. “The state knowingly directed families like the Losos to a foreseeable and deadly danger without warning.”
The DNR in a statement said it could not comment in detail due to active litigation against it. “Our thoughts and condolences continue to be with the family and loved ones of Jack Loso following this tragic loss,” Gail Nosek, DNR communications director, said Monday morning.
Loso’s parents Patti and Robert said in December that they blame the DNR for negligence leading to their son’s death.
“How could they allow this to happen?” Patti Loso said before a vigil at the park in memory of her son.