Funeral home faces lawsuit after wrong body sent to Guatemala
- Elder Emilio Garcia Umul's family has filed a lawsuit against Rivera Funeral Home for sending the wrong body to Guatemala.
- The wrongful body sent was that of 96-year-old Carmen Maldonado, which was meant to be sent to Ecuador.
- Both families are suing the funeral home, seeking justice for the emotional distress caused by these incidents.
In a troubling incident in New York City, Elder Emilio Garcia Umul's family has filed a lawsuit against Rivera Funeral Home after discovering that his body was not the one sent for burial in Guatemala. The grievous mix-up occurred after Garcia Umul, a 39-year-old waiter who passed away from a heart attack, was supposed to be buried alongside his parents. Instead, the funeral home accidentally shipped the body of 96-year-old Carmen Maldonado. The family only found out about the error while watching a livestream of the funeral service, leading to a deep sense of horror and emotional turmoil. The lawsuit details that the family was emotionally devastated upon realizing that the body they were saying goodbye to was not Garcia Umul. Leonor Valente, the sister of Garcia Umul, expressed the sentiment that the situation was heartless and a failure on the funeral home's part. According to reports, the Rivera Funeral Home has faced a troubled history, with the New York City Department of Health having previously cited it for numerous violations, which underscores ongoing issues surrounding its practices. Moreover, this incident is not isolated; it represents the second instance of mishandling bodies by the funeral home. The first lawsuit was filed by Maldonado's family, which also encountered significant difficulties regarding the proper handling of their loved one's remains. Unbeknownst to many, both families are represented by the same attorney, Philip Rizzuto, indicating the pervasive nature of these problems within the funeral home industry in the area. As the families seek justice through legal channels, the scrutiny on Rivera Funeral Home may intensify, especially considering the New York City Department of Health's investigation into the firm. This case highlights the vulnerabilities families face during their most difficult times and raises critical questions about the standards and accountability within the funeral industry. The families hope their actions will bring justice and send a strong message about the need to prioritize the dignity of the deceased and families during such sensitive times.