The mother of Christopher Kelly, a 14-year-old boy who died in 2021 after being struck by a falling tree branch during a school-sponsored tree-planting event, has filed a $29 million lawsuit against Central Catholic High School and the organization Friends of Trees. The lawsuit alleges negligence, claiming that both entities failed to protect students from hazardous weather conditions, despite forecasts predicting thunderstorms. On the day of the incident, strong winds and thunder were reported nearby, yet no safety measures were implemented, such as seeking shelter or providing helmets. The complaint highlights that while some students took refuge under a tent, Kelly continued to plant trees and was subsequently struck and killed by a large section of a black cottonwood tree. The lawsuit argues that the event should have been postponed or canceled due to the weather risks, as advised by the National Weather Service. Central Catholic High School expressed condolences but did not provide detailed comments on the lawsuit.