Judge Wroble to hear Menorah Gardens' and parent corporation, SCI's Motion to Dismiss where dozens of families have filed suit

Judge Wroble to hear Menorah Gardens' and parent corporation, SCI's Motion to Dismiss where dozens of families have filed suit.

Friday, Oct., 4 - 10:30 a.m. -County Judicial Complex - 205 N. Dixie - West Palm Beach

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Attorney Ted Leopold of Ricci, Leopold, & Farmer, P.A. filed suit three months ago against SCI Funeral Services of Florida, Inc., a Florida corporation doing business as Menorah Gardens & Funeral Chapel and Service Corporation International, a Houston, Texas based corporation on behalf of 36 Palm Beach County families.

On Friday, October 4, 2002, Circuit Court Judge, Art Wroble will hear Defendants' Menorah Gardens/SCI Motions to Dismiss in Courtroom 9B at 10:30 a.m.

The Plaintiffs' suit asserts a number of claims against Menorah Gardens/Service Corporation International which include: secretly breaking and opening burial vaults and dumping remains in a wooded area where the remains may have been consumed by wild animals; burying remains in locations other than those purchased by plaintiffs; crushing burial vaults in order to make room for other vaults; burying remains on top of the other rather than side-by-side; secretly digging up and removing remains; secretly burying remains head-to-foot rather than side-by-side; secretly mixing body parts and remains from different individuals; secretly allowing plots owned by one party to be occupied by a different person; secretly selling plots in rows where there were more graves assigned than the rows could accommodate; secretly allowing graves to encroach on other plots; secretly selling plots so narrow that the plots could not accommodate standard burial vaults; secretly participating in the desecration of gravesites and markers and otherwise failing to exercise reasonable care in handling the plaintiffs' loved ones' remains.

In reaction to the number of continuing complaints as well as a Florida Attorney General's (AG) investigation into Menorah Gardens/SCI, the AG appointed an examiner to oversee Menorah Gardens.

"This litigation needs to move forward to protect these families, as well as families who have done or will do business with SCI and Menorah Gardens," said Leopold. "We have families still waiting to know if indeed their loved ones are where they are supposed to be and if Jewish customs and traditions have been followed. SCI is a huge corporation and its arm of influence in this industry is everywhere. We believe the courts can and will provide redress for what SCI has done at Menorah Gardens. We will have the opportunity to present our case and advise the court why the Defendants' Motions should be denied," added Leopold.