A Southfield law firm has filed a $1 million lawsuit against Cantrell Funeral Home Tuesday.
Moss & Colella, P.C. says the suit is on behalf of a Detroit woman who claims her husband's remains were "improperly handled by the now closed Cantrell Funeral Home on Mack Avenue in Detroit."
The firm's client Katherleen Bonner contracted the funeral home's services back in January. The funeral was originally scheduled to take place on January 20.
On January 23, Cantrell contacted Bonner, advising that her husband's body was "unfit for an open casket."
When Bonner visited Cantrell to see her husband's body, home officials refused to show her the body on multiple occasions. According to the law firm, the funeral home's agent was eventually able to convince Bonner to cremate her husband.
Moss & Colella's questioned the funeral home in August about the incident. Cantrell offered no response.
“Despite the substantial claim for damages, a family’s right to a dignified burial of their loved one cannot be measured in dollars,” said A. Vince Colella, founding partner of Moss & Colella P.C. law firm.
The law firm says the recent coverage of the infant remains found in the ceiling of the former Cantrell building has increased their "client's grief and frustration with the pattern of disregard shown by the funeral home for the families it served."
