Regulations
By a vote of 65-33 the West Virginia House passed on Wednesday their Indigent Funeral Bill that will now move on to the state’s Senate. The somewhat conroversial bill reduces the price paid to funeral directors to $1000 per service from the current payment of $1250. However, the bill also names disposition by cremation as…
The other day I was going thru my daily articles of the industry when I came across two articles, that while not unique to what I read, caused me to pause to think — “How will we solve these problems?” Because, I don’t think that these problems are going to go away with out some…
Here is an update provided by mysanantonio.com on the civil trial against Mission Park Funeral Chapels and Cemeteries. As you may recall, the funeral business has been sued by the family of Julie Mott, who’s body went missing, when, according to the lawsuit, it was in the possession of the funeral home. The body has…
An article appeared in the San Antonio Express News last week that highlighted the beginning of the funeral home missing body case. The case is being heard in Bexar County, Texas and the civil case is being presided on by Judge Norma Gonzalez. You can read the San Antonio article here. Here is what we…
In a case we have followed for the last year on Funeral Director Daily, Chad Harding, owner of the Gatens-Harding Funeral Home in West Virginia, was sentenced yesterday to up to 30 years in prison by Putnam Circuit Judge Joseph K. Reeder. You can read more about the case and the sentencing here. Harding, a…
An interesting bill that may have ramifications for beyond West Virginia was recently referred to the West Virginia House Finance Committee. The bill, which should come up for debate and possible vote this session stems from the fact that the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources ran out of indigent burial funding last…
According to an article and news video that you can see here from CBSlocal 2 in California, a home removal has led to a complaint against the Trident Society in Rancho Mirage, California. The article tells of the death of Karol Spohn at her home on November 12. Ms. Spohn had pre-arranged and paid over…
Last week a jury was seated and opening statements were begun in the criminal trial of Arthur Rathburn, age 64, of Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan. Rathburn is accused of fraudulently misrepresenting his unusual product, that of parts of bodies that had been donated for research. According to an article on the case that you can…
Yesterday I read of two cases where funeral homes faced examiners because of problems at their mortuaries and in both cases both funeral homes have had their licenses revoked for a period of time from the respective examining boards. While the funeral homes may have the chance to plead their case and appeal, much of…
