Jury Awards Mott Family $8 Million in Lost Body Trial

A jury in San Antonio has awarded a couple $8 million after finding the Mission Park Funeral Chapels and Cemeteries negligent in the loss of the their daughter’s body before she was to be cremated, according to an article in the Insurance Journal that you can read here.

Sharlotte and Timothy Mott, parents of Julie Mott, were awarded $1.5 million each for mental anguish suffered in the past and $2.5 million each for mental anguish that will likely be sustained in the future.

Julie Mott died and was to be cremated after her funeral on August 15, 2015.  Employees discovered the body missing from the funeral home prior to the cremation.  Police have not arrested anyone and the body has never been found.

The plaintiffs argued, among other things, that the funeral home hid the use of outside contractors (trade funeral directors) who had unlimited access to its facilities and that the funeral homes security codes and locks were outdated.

It is unclear whether the Mission Park Funeral Chapels and Cemeteries will appeal the verdict.

Funeral DirectorDaily take:  This is why you have insurance, protocols and procedures, and up to date security at your funeral home.  The list of things that could go wrong in the funeral business – and cause mental anguish to a family — is endless.

Small funeral home owners spend most of their time directly helping families and it is how they build their reputations and brands.  However, this story really pounds home the point that you have adequate insurance and procedures too.  Make sure that you take the time to visit with experts in those areas to know that you are protected if something does go wrong.

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