Families Sue Cemetery Company Over Corpse Confusion
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A cemetery mix up has a local family filing suit! That's after another woman was found buried in their mother's pre-paid plot at the Star of David Memorial Gardens Cemetery in North Lauderdale.
"I went to look at my father's gravesite, and I knew immediately something wasn't right," said Connie Minsky.
With a closer look she discovered another woman was buried in her mother's plot.
"When I asked how you mismatch social security numbers he said it was an oversight, I said a person dies and you are burying them in a pre-paid plot, and its an oversight? It just didn't make any sense to me."
And Minsky's cemetery mix up might not be unique to her family. Her attorney, Debi Chalik with Chalik&Chalik, P.A. Law Office, says it's "happening over and over again."
She has since filed a civil lawsuit against Service Corporation International, the company that owns the Star of David Cemetery and the Menorah Gardens Cemetery, where some of her other clients allege similar misconduct.
"We believe these plots are being sold over and over again in an effort to turn a profit," said Chalik.
Chalik & Chalik, P.A. Law Office sent divers into a lake that neighbors the Star of David cemetery, where they found a large vault which is used to hold coffins.
"I don't think these are people with a conscience, so I wouldn't have any faith in anything they do," said Minsky.
In response, Service Corporation International released this statement: We intend to conduct a thorough investigation into this claim. We have strict quality-control standards for interments at all our cemeteries, and we are confident in those procedures. We value our relationships with our client families and invite them to contact us if they have any concerns about the burials of their loved ones.
