Mishandling a Corpse

It’s bad enough when a loved one passes away. But occasionally, a hospital, morgue, medical examiner, or funeral home mishandles the remains of the deceased. Sometimes the wrong body is cremated or buried, or a body is lost. In one case the family of a brain damaged child was not told that he had passed away and he was buried by the hospital without his family’s knowledge or participation.

Cases like this are known in the law as “breach of sepulcher”—breach of the right of burial. They are actionable, and the next of kin can recover damages for the pain and emotional distress caused.

The attorneys at the Berkman Law Office, LLC have handled multiple breach of sepulcher cases over the years.