Families Sue Florida Cemeteries

December 22, 2001
Two Florida Jewish cemeteries owned by the world's largest funeral company allegedly dug up bodies, crushed burial vaults and dumped human remains in wooded areas to make room for additional graves.

Lawyers said that as many as 1,000 bodies could have been displaced at Menorah Gardens cemeteries in Palm Beach and Broward counties. The cemeteries are owned by Service Corp. International, a Houston-based giant.

Company officials say they are appalled and vowed to will conduct a full investigation. There is no evidence of similar abuse at any of the company's 3,851 funeral homes and cemeteries worldwide.

Relatives are suing for unspecified damages and are also asking the court to order changes in company policies. Also, Florida Attorney General Bob Butterworth has opened a criminal probe of the company.

One of the plaintiffs, Carol Prisco of Long Island, said her father, Meyer Goldstein, was buried atop the grave of another woman instead of next to an empty plot he had bought for his wife. His body was allegedly among hundreds jammed into spaces that were too close to other bodies.

Lawyers for the families displayed photos of a leg bone lying on the ground beside chunks of a concrete vault. Finger bones, Jewish burial shrouds and a Star of David were found nearby.

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