As reported by the Miami New Times, the Palms Woodlawn Funeral Home and Cemetery is named in a personal injury lawsuit for burying a married couple in graves that were not labeled as theirs, and keeping the information from their loved ones.
W.G. died in March of 2001 and was buried at the Palms Woodlawn Cemetery. W.G.'s wife, J.G., had purchased the grave next to his, with the intention of being buried next to him when she died.
The Palms Woodlawn Cemetery is located in Naranja on Old South Dixie Highway.
J.G., and the couple's daughter, C.Q., visited W.G.'s gravesite for the next seven years.
J.G. followed her husband in death in November 2008, and her body was taken to Palms Woodlawn. It was then that C.Q. allegedly discovered that the body in her father's grave was not her father.
The lawsuit states that employees of Palms Woodlawn "intentionally mis-buried" W.G. in March of 2001. The injury was doubled when the cemetery then buried J.G. on top of a person that was not W.G.
The suit claims, "The defendant's conduct was malicious and intentional (and) is outrageous and goes beyond all bounds of decency in a civilized society."
Attorney Bill Williams is representing C.Q. in the lawsuit. C.Q. declined, through Williams, to comment to the press regarding the litigation. An employee at Palms Woodlawn told reporters to contact the executive director of the Caballero Rivero Woodlawn Funeral Homes, M.C., who had not returned a call at press time.
The suit states that following the death of W.G., Woodlawn buried him in a different grave than previously planned. In his place, lay a stranger. The information about the mis-burial was held from the family and no reason for the action was given. By 2004, according the suit, the grave markers for W.G., and the man buried in his grave, were inexplicably moved.
According to the suit, when J.G. died, and was buried at Palms Woodlawn, "Palms Woodlawn, for the first time, explained to the members of the (G.) family ... about the mis-burials, despite the fact that Palms Woodlawn had knowledge of the mis-burials of their deceased relatives for at least seven years before this date."
The lawsuit continues by stating that at that time employees at Palms Woodlawn "intentionally mis-buried (J.G.) on top of a non-related deceased male or female, and then (she) subsequently had to be disinterred on February 28, 2009, because of the intentional acts and malfeasance of Palms Woodlawn's agents and employees."
The suit claims that W.G. "is buried in a double depth burial with a non-related male or female and ... (J.G.) is buried in a remote location, not next to her husband."
C.Q. is seeking a trial by jury to determine punitive and compensatory damages.
A case of personal injury can take many forms. If you believe that you have been injured due to the action, or inaction, of another party, contact a personal injury lawyer right away. Monetary compensation may be awarded for your damages.