The Quintanilla family is suing La Paz Funeral Home after the wrong body was sent for a funeral in El Salvador. The lawsuit cites negligence, improper embalming, and emotional distress. The family was unaware of the mix-up until the casket was opened, discovering a shocking state of decomposition in the body that arrived. The case is currently being heard in Sacramento Superior Court.
The family of Francisco Quintanilla has initiated legal proceedings against La Paz Funeral Home in Sacramento, California, following the inadvertent delivery of the incorrect body for a planned open-casket funeral in El Salvador. The lawsuit states that La Paz Funeral Services was charged with the proper embalming and transportation of Quintanilla’s body for burial.
Upon arrival in El Salvador, the family was shocked to discover that the body they received was not Quintanilla’s. The lawsuit also points to the failure of the funeral home to embalm his body adequately and the employment of unlicensed personnel, resulting in profound emotional distress for the family.
The family contends they were not made aware of any mix-up and only recognized the error when they opened the coffin at the funeral service. They reported that La Paz was unable to communicate the location of Quintanilla’s remains for several days. The funeral home eventually located the body and sent it to El Salvador.
Upon its arrival, however, the family found Quintanilla’s body in a “shocking state of decomposition,” having not been embalmed properly. Due to this condition, a dignified funeral was rendered impossible, as “his skin had turned purple and was shriveled, his body was leaking fluids, and a horrible smell was emitting from the casket.”
The attorney representing the Quintanilla family emphasized the extreme pain and suffering caused by this incident, highlighting their inability to mourn and honor their loved one appropriately. They are seeking damages for negligence, breach of contract, and emotional distress through their lawsuit. Maria Mercedes Medjia de Quintanilla, Quintanilla’s wife, expressed the family’s devastation, stating that, “Our family planned to have an open casket service…What happened instead was shocking and heartbreaking.”
The case, filed in Sacramento Superior Court, is currently ongoing.
This case highlights grave concerns regarding the standards of services provided by funeral homes, particularly in the handling and transportation of remains. The Quintanilla family’s ordeal underscores the emotional toll such negligence can take, as well as the legal ramifications it may evoke. As the case progresses, it serves as a reminder for families to seek assurance in the services they entrust during times of bereavement.
Original Source: www.latintimes.com
