A South Carolina woman has sued a funeral home after allegedly discovering a stranger’s body in her mother’s casket during an open-casket viewing.
Iris Gordon claims the unidentified person was wearing clothing she had provided for her mother, 87-year-old Iris Evans. The lawsuit names Ocean View Funeral Home and Cremation Services and seeks repayment of funeral expenses and additional damages.
Gordon filed the complaint in Horry County Common Pleas Court on October 6, according to WBTW’s reporting, republished by AOL. The allegations have not been established as court findings in the reporting reviewed.
Family arrived to say goodbye
Evans died on January 14. Gordon subsequently met with funeral home co-owner Atu Williams to arrange services, according to the complaint described by local news outlets.
Gordon supplied her mother’s black-and-gold outfit, matching scarf, hat, wig and undergarments for the viewing. The family expected to see Evans dressed in those belongings when they gathered on January 30.
Instead, the complaint alleges, relatives approached the open casket and found an unfamiliar person wearing Evans’ attire.
About 20 friends and family members had gathered for the viewing, WBTW reported. The lawsuit describes Gordon as devastated by the discovery and says she broke down emotionally in front of those closest to her.
Second viewing arranged two hours later
Gordon notified funeral home staff, who contacted Williams. According to the lawsuit, Williams acknowledged during a telephone conversation that the funeral home had made a mistake.
That alleged acknowledgment is part of Gordon’s account in the complaint, rather than a separate public statement from the business.
The viewing, originally scheduled for approximately 3 p.m., was moved to 5 p.m. When the family returned, Evans was in the casket, according to WMBF’s report on the lawsuit.
The supplied account of the complaint further alleges that Evans was then wearing the same clothing previously placed on the unidentified person.
The other person’s identity and the circumstances that allegedly led to the mix-up were not established in the reporting reviewed.
Daughter seeks funeral costs and damages
Gordon paid $13,820.55 for the funeral services, according to WMBF. She is seeking that amount back, along with additional damages.
The complaint alleges breach of contract, gross negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress, WBTW reported.
Gordon says the experience caused lasting emotional and psychological harm, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and difficulty sleeping. Those descriptions are claims made in the lawsuit; medical records supporting them were not independently reviewed for this article.
Funeral home response remains unavailable
WMBF said Ocean View had not responded to its request for comment when its October 7 report was published. WBTW also reported seeking comment from the business.
No subsequent response or court ruling was located in the sources reviewed for this article.
The lawsuit seeks accountability for what Gordon alleges happened during her mother’s final viewing. How the alleged error occurred and whether the defendants are legally responsible remain matters for the court proceedings.