The mere mention of cemetery fraud is enough to make most people shudder. Who would try to take advantage of a family at the time when they are most vulnerable and in the most pain? Yet cemetery fraud is an all-too-common occurrence that leaves grieving families facing the realities of inappropriate and often illegal actions on the part of funeral homes and cemetery operators. At the Philadelphia law firm of Bochetto & Lentz, we know that the effort, thought and care that you put into the final arrangements for your loved ones are a reflection of the respect and esteem that you felt for them, and that the fraud perpetrated on you is a betrayal of your trust. We are here to work on your behalf, making sure that you and your loved one get the justice you deserve from those who have done such terrible emotional harm.
Showing respect for the deceased is a basic tenet of human decency, and when the funeral or burial professionals who you entrust with that task either fail in performing up a reasonable level of expectation or purposely mislead in an effort to enrich themselves, that is either negligence or fraud. There are a number of ways that cemetery fraud may occur, including:
- Failure to treat the deceased’s remains with respect
- Losing the deceased’s remains
- Improper burial practices
- Misplaced gravestones
- Lost or stolen personal burial items
- Disruption of the grave
- Improper relocations of remains
- Exhumations without consent
- Failure to honor family plot arrangements
- Stacking remains in oversold plots
- Wrongful cremation
- Improper embalming
- Selling body parts
- Fraudulent pre-need contracts
- Improper storage of body
Losing a loved one is difficult enough – you should be able to trust the funeral home, cemetery or morgue with whom you have contracted to follow your instructions and treat your loved one with dignity. The law takes a dim view of those who commit these acts, and in addition to considering them a crime, it also provides remedies for those who have suffered monetary and emotional damages as a result of cemetery fraud to pursue legal action and file lawsuits against those responsible. At the Philadelphia law firm of Bochetto & Lentz, we are proud of our successful record of getting justice for those who have been victimized by these unaccountable actions.
If you have been the victim of cemetery fraud, there are a number of things that need to be done. First and foremost, the problems need to be corrected if possible, so that your loved one can be properly placed in their final resting place. Once that is addressed the matter can be taken up legally. The compassionate attorneys at Bochetto & Lentz will help you through the process and work to ensure hat you get appropriate compensation to make up for the terrible wrong you have suffered. Call us today to discuss how we can help.
To learn more about Cemetery Fraud and how we can help with your case click HERE.
