TAMPA , Fla. (Legal Newsline)— A lawsuit against a Florida funeral home alleges it accidentally put the ashes of two men together and attempted to remedy the problem by scooping some out.
Joyce Schenfield and Gilbert Munoz filed a complaint Nov. 15 in Hillsborough Circuit Court against Northstar Funeral Services LLC doing business as Baza & Roel Funeral Home, alleging breach of contract, tortious interference with a dead body and other claims.
According to their complaint, the plaintiffs contracted with the defendant in February of 2023 for their father Osvaldo Munoz's funeral services. They claim that on Feb. 13, 2023, they received the remains of their father and allege that the while placing his remains, the defendant unpacked and opened the remains of another decedent in very close physical proximity to Munoz's remains.
The plaintiffs claim that the defendant mixed the remains of their father with the other decedent's remains and attempted to "scoop out" the unrelated decedent's remains.
They allege that the defendant's actions have resulted in great mental and physical stress and that they are not able to handle picking up the tainted remains of their father, which are currently in their attorney's possession, or having a funeral.
The plaintiffs seek monetary relief of more than $50,000, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. They are represented by Daniel Ryan of Daniel M. Ryan LLC in Tampa.
Hillsborough Circuit Court case number 186204269