LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Legal Newsline) -- An Arkansas medical center and a funeral home face a lawsuit over the handling of a corpse.
Craig B. Collier, as the personal representative of the estate of Fredrick Collier, deceased, filed a complaint on August 24 in the Circuit Court of Pulaski County against Baptist Health Medical Center Little Rock and Harris Funeral Home, Inc. for negligence.
According to the complaint, on August 24, 2018, Frederick Collier was pronounced dead in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit of Baptist Health. After he passed, the chaplain prayed with the family.
The family was allowed to remain in the room with Mr. Collier. When Craig Collier left the room, he informed the nurses that they could call Robinson Mortuary to collect Mr. Collier’s body for preparation for burial, the suit says.
Robinson Mortuary staff attempted to make arrangements to get Mr. Collier’s body; however, they were informed that the body was not available. On Saturday, August 25, 2018, Robinson Mortuary picked up Craig Collier’s body from Baptist Health.
Robinson Mortuary staff called Plaintiff and asked him to immediately come to the funeral home, the suit says. When he arrived, there were gashes and marks on Mr. Collier’s face, the suit says.
Allegedly, Mr. Collier’s right eye was swollen and there was blood coming from the wounds. Craig and Mrs. Collier, Mr. Collier's wife, asked for a meeting with Baptist Health, and at that time they found that the body of Mr. Collier had been released to Harris Funeral Homes which was not authorized, and damaged, the suit says.
The Colliers seek judgment in favor for expenses, mental anguish, damages to Mr. Collier’s body, attorney’s fees and all other relief. The Colliers are represented by Willard Proctor.
Circuit Court of Pulaski County, Arkansas case number 60CV-21-5185