Relatives of an 80-year-old man who died earlier this year are suing a Los Angeles mortuary, alleging the staff dressed the wrong corpse for a subsequent viewing with clothing supplied by the family.
The Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit filed against Harrison-Ross Mortuary alleges negligence, breach of contract and both intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress. The family seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
A representative for Harrison-Ross did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the suit brought Thursday.
The decedent died Feb. 28 and his widow entered a contract with the mortuary for funeral services, according to the suit, which also states that the family bought a dress suit for the decedent that was based on his wishes. During the April 7 viewing at the mortuary’s Crenshaw Boulevard location, the decedent’s niece saw that the clothing was correct, but the person wearing them was not their loved one, the suit states.
“The family was extremely distraught leading to confusing, emotional distress and arguments amongst the family about why the wrong corpse was at the viewing,” according to the suit.
When confronted, a mortuary employee “double-downed” and reassured the niece that it was in fact the correct body, the suit states.
Only after the niece showed the employee pre-death photos of the decedent did the worker acknowledge the error, the suit alleges.
By the time the clothing was removed and replaced on decedent’s body and the correct corpse was then brought out, the viewing time was almost over, the suit states.
A day later, at the actual funeral, a mortuary employee asked the decedent’s niece to “sign documents relating to defendant’s negligence,” according to the suit, which adds, “The mystery and horrific facts surrounding the treatment of decedent has caused and continues to cause plaintiffs immense mental suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, inconvenience, grief, anxiety, humiliation and emotional distress.”