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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Grieving Parents Sue Funeral Home

DALLAS (CN) - Parents claim in court that a funeral home ruined their final moments with the body of their son by having his funeral interrupted by a "parade" of other customers on their way to a restroom, among other things.

Ed and Toni Allen, parents of the late Brien Allen, claim Restland Funeral Home failed to live up to its promises of professionalism.

"Several funeral attendees noticed that Restland employees rolled their eyes at the Allens and their guests and overall appeared put upon to extend the simplest of courtesies to the family," according to the complaint in Dallas County Court.

"Despite Restland's representations that someone from Restland would be available to assist the Allens during visitation, the Allens and their guests were left alone."

The Allens claim that if they had not tracked down an employee after visitation, their son's casket would have remained open all night. They say Restland failed to provide promised kneelers for Catholic mourners, refused to let themplace a crucifix on his casket during the funeral, and gave them a visitation room that customers had to cross to get to a bathroom. And they claim that flowers they bought for the funeral were not in place and that flowers that other people sent were placed in the wrong visitation room.

"At the cemetery, Restland's representatives again treated the Allens with disrespect, first by asking the pall bears to help 'unload' Brien's casket, and then by misspelling Brien's name on the temporary grave marker," the complaint states.

The family claims Restland has denied any responsibility and has neglected the gravesite.

"Other grave sites are kept clean and well groomed," the complaint states. "Brien's grave site has become a collection point for garbage and leaves, and generally looks terrible."

The Allens seek damages for deceptive trade, fraudulent nondisclosure and negligence.

They are represented by Brett Myers, with David, Goodman and Madole.

Follow @davejourno
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