Family files lawsuit against funeral home for allegedly fitting their loved one’s clothes to the wrong size

Family of late Addison Jenkins files lawsuit against funeral home New Jersey Last month, he claimed the wrong body was placed in his loved ones’ clothing and coffin ahead of a public viewing. Boyd Funeral Home He is accused of inflicting emotional distress and careless handling of human remains in the lawsuit, filed Sept. 5 in New Jersey Superior Court in Camden and purchased by. People.

The family is now making a request jury trial The lawsuit seeks both punitive and non-pecuniary damages, according to the complaint.

Jenkins passed away on Feb. 11, 2023, and his family made arrangements with Boyd Funeral Services for a public viewing at Faith Tabernacle on Feb. 18 and a funeral service on Feb. 19, the complaint said.

According to the complaint, his widow prepared for the ceremony and final internment by bringing her clothing and personal belongings to the funeral home on Feb. 15 before the funeral.

But the family arrived at the funeral home the day before the viewing and “approached the casket allegedly containing Addison and immediately became upset and angry when she saw another casket,” according to the complaint. unrecognizable A corpse wearing Addison’s clothes and belongings.”

“Plaintiffs were in shock, upset, confused and filled with tears.”

Additionally, an employee showed them text messages confirming the body was Jenkins’ after the funeral director was not there to address their concerns, according to the complaint. funeral home makeup artist he also assured the family that it was Jenkins’ body. However, as stated in the lawsuit, an argument broke out between the family and the funeral home staff over the body in the coffin.

To prove that they are relatives funeral director He also forwarded the photos to Jenkins’ family. The family protested, stating that the other body did not have a cauliflower ear, but Jenkins did. The family also claimed that Jenkins had a serious infection in his foot.

Relatives of the deceased requested the director to open the coffin on the scheduled viewing day so that they could see his body and feet. This time, the family confirmed Jenkins was in the casket.

Still, the complaint stated: “As a result of the foregoing. Plaintiffs were emotionally distraught. Plaintiffs They were denied the right to grieve the death of their deceased loved one and were also found to endure severe and ongoing emotional distress.”

According to Jenkins’ family, they “have suffered and continue to suffer serious emotional distress and harm” as a result of Boyd Funeral Homes’ alleged “negligent acts and omissions.” The funeral home was also accused of “failing to exercise the degree of professional skill acceptable to others in the same profession(s) and communities, constituting negligence and causing significant emotional distress to Plaintiffs.”

The plaintiffs’ attorney, Michael Shaw, wrote in a statement shared with People: “What happened to the Jenkins family and their late loved one, Addison Jenkins, is disturbing and reprehensible. To put a twist on the knife, when the Jenkins family reported the misconduct to the funeral home, its harsh response showed my clients that it was wrong and reprehensible.” By insisting that the unidentified body was their deceased loved one, putting the blame on them and gaslighting a suffering family after displaying the wrong body is cruel and despicable.”