The funeral home abuse attorneys at Bisnar | Chase represent grieving families who are victimized by greedy or unethical businesses that violate the dignity of their loved ones who are deceased. We have seen heartbreaking and outrageous negligence in several California funeral homes and cemeteries. However, the recent cemetery abuse scandal in Illinois is probably one of the worst cases we have seen so far.

Four cemetery workers at the Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip have been charged with dismembering bodies, The Chicago Tribune reports. Cook County Sheriff's officials say workers at the Burr Oak Cemetery allegedly dug up more than 100 graves dumped the bodies into unmarked mass graves and resold the plots to unsuspecting members of the public. Three men and one woman were charged with one count each of dismembering a human body. Burr Oak is a renowned cemetery, with historical significance, especially to the African-American community. Burr Oak is the final resting place of many famous African-Americans including lynching victim Emmett Till, blues singers Willie Dixon, Dinah Washington and Otis Spann as well as Harlem Globetrotter Inman Jackson.

This is a clear case of cemetery operators taking advantage of consumers who are vulnerable. Unfortunately, in the last few years, we have seen an increase in this disturbing trend of negligence. Most of these incidents involve greed, corruption and deception. Some of the atrocities we hear about include bodies robbed of jewelry; body parts removed and sold, overlooked or vandalized graveyards covered by garbage dumps; and multiple bodies placed in one coffin or plot. If anything, this scandal in Illinois involves one of the worst cases of breach of trust.

Families who buried their loved ones in this cemetery believed that this was a dignified and respectful burial--a last resting place. As it turned out, for many, this has now become a time of turmoil. Thousands are searching for the graves of their loved ones and can't find them. There is no question the individuals running this cemetery should be held accountable to consumers who have suffered because of the violation that's happened to the remains of their loved ones. Victims in such cases would be well advised to contact an experienced cemetery abuse attorney or personal injury lawyer who will advise them about their legal rights and options.

A family in Lake Worth, Florida, is suing Service Corporation International Funeral Services for funeral home negligence after the cemetery not only wrongly marked their father Jose Herrera's grave, but also told the family they did not know where the man's body was. According to a news article in the Palm Beach Post, the incident obviously traumatized the family, which often visited what they believed to be their father's grave leaving small Cuban flags and Yankee memorabilia. The family found out about the mix-up when they wanted to bury Herrera's wife, Rosa, next to him two years ago. To this day, Herrera's children and grandchildren do not know whose grave they were visiting or whether there was someone else buried there.

The lawsuit, filed by Herrera's son Jose Herrera Jr., claims compensation for emotional distress and mishandling of the body as well as misrepresentation that it was the final resting place for his father who passed away in 2003. The family is seeking damages in excess of $15,000. Rosa Herrera's body was buried temporarily until crews located her husband's remains, which took approximately one month. The remains were located 75 feet away from the marker that read "Jose Herrera Sr." Although Herrera's name was on the casket, family members say now they have doubts whether even those remains are their father's.

Apparently this is not the first "incident" involving problems at SCI. In 2001, families made claims that managers at cemeteries operated by SCI in Florida oversold and misplaced plots and dug up and scattered remains to make room for others. About 9,000 families made claims and 350 of those will receive damages from the $100 million settlement.

Funeral home negligence and abuse is getting to be a huge issue in California and across the country. Bisnar | Chase is representing several clients who have been victimized by local funeral homes. These horrible incidents take an emotional toll on grieving families who have already been through a lot. Such cemeteries and funeral homes that cause more grief to already grieving families should be held accountable for their negligence and/or wrongdoing. If you have been a victim, please contact an experienced funeral home negligence and abuse attorney to find out more about your legal rights and options.