Wyoming Outdoor Leadership School Sued Over 2011 Death

The mother of a 20-year-old Minnesota man has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Lander, Wyo.-based National Outdoor Leadership School.

The lawsuit filed by Elizabeth Brenner, of Minnetonka, Minn., in federal court accuses the school of negligence in the Sept. 22, 2011 death of her son Thomas Plotkin during a NOLS led backpacking trip in India.

The lawsuit says Plotkin slipped on a wet rock and plunged 300 feet down a ravine. His body was never found.

The lawsuit doesn’t specify a specific damage amount but states the number is in excess of $75,000.

Bruce Palmer is director for admission and marketing at NOLS.

Palmer says there was no disciplinary action for any of the NOLS employees involved. He declined to elaborate on the incident, citing pending litigation.