Coronavirus Mistreatment of a Corpse

The passing of a loved one is difficult under the best of circumstances. The coronavirus pandemic has only complicated the grieving process, as many funeral homes have put an end to large ceremonies in favor of small gatherings and live streams. 

Although the majority of mortuaries have navigated the COVID-19 crisis admirably, others have fallen tragically short of rewarding the trust they’ve been given. 

In this time and always, funeral homes have a responsibility to treat the deceased with the utmost care and respect. If you lost a loved one during the COVID-19 outbreak – whether due to the novel coronavirus or another cause – and suspect the mortuary may have mistreated their remains, our attorneys are here to help.

Contact us for a free, no-risk case evaluation.

What Is Mistreatment of a Corpse?

A corpse must be stored properly and treated in a dignified manner. Sadly, amid the coronavirus pandemic, numerous examples of corpse mistreatment have been uncovered. Notably, a New York City funeral home was caught storing dozens of bodies in unrefrigerated U-Haul trucks. The stench was described as “overwhelming” and lingered for weeks.

This isn’t the only form of corpse mistreatment funeral homes may be culpable for. For example, they might:

• Abuse a corpse
• Improperly dispose of a body
• Steal and sell organs
• Bury a body in the wrong plot
• Bury the wrong body
• Steal jewelry or other property
• Drop a corpse during transport

Contact a Funeral Lawyer

The coronavirus pandemic has overwhelmed many funeral homes, but that doesn’t mean your loved one isn’t entitled to dignity and respect. If a funeral home acted negligently, contact our attorneys. We may be able to help you recover compensation in this trying time.

Schedule a free, no-obligation case evaluation now.