In a surprisingly bold statement, an attorney for the state of Utah says a camper vs. bear incident that caused the death of 11-year-old Samuel Ives last year, is the parents' and federal government's fault — not the state's.

Assistant attorney general Reed Stringham told the Deseret News.

It's not the state's fault. I hope that's the message that's been conveyed throughout this. It's a tragedy, but that doesn't mean the state is responsible.

Ives was camping with his family in American Fork Canyon when a black bear ripped a hole in their tent and dragged him out, mauled him. The family has sued, arguing the state, which manages wildlife, and federal government, which manages the campground, failed to warn campers that a bear that confronted other campers in the same area a day before. Had they been given that information, the family says it wouldn't have camped there.

But the state's answer to the suit is that any blame should be pinned on the U.S. Forest Service and Ives parents, who "negligently brought bear attractants, including food, soda and beer to the incident area and allowed attractants to remain in the area."

Their negligent acts attracted the bear to the area and caused the incident that is the subject of this lawsuit.