The United States government is asking the U.S. District Court to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the family of a 12-year-old boy who was killed by a bear in American Fork Canyon.

The family of Samuel Ives is asking for at least $2.1 million for his death. Ives was killed in July 2007 by a black bear while he and his family were camping about a mile above the Timpooneke Campground in American Fork Canyon. The bear ripped open his tent while he slept and dragged him away from the campsite.

Ives's family filed suit against state and federal wildlife officials in March. They contend that officials should have notified campers of a bear sighting the previous day, and that the campsite should have been closed.

"We are asking the judge to recognize that because the Forest Service's decisions relating to warnings and the management of developed campgrounds are discretionary and involve balancing a variety of public policy considerations, they are protected by the discretionary function exception and the plaintiffs' claims should be dismissed," the U.S. Attorney's Office wrote.