Trending...
- PHOENIX INVESTORS ACQUIRES TWO INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES FROM STELLANTIS
- Breaking Barriers & Elevating Voices: The Top 50 Over 50 Podcast Awards Set to Make History!
- Local Tech Entrepreneur Partners with WonderSouq To Offer Downtown Medford Businesses a Virtual City Experience
Family Files Lawsuit Against The State Of Maryland For Unlawful Cremation Of A Disabled African American Woman Without Permission From Her Children.
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. - WisconsinEagle -- The family of Patricia Hill has filed a multi-million-dollar lawsuit against the State of Maryland and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for cremating Ms. Hill's body without the permission or knowledge of her next of kin. Patricia Hill, a 57-year-old African American woman, was found deceased in a rental vehicle on April 21, 2022. Her body was taken by the Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME). On May 10, 2022, an OCME employee contacted Ms. Hill's son and informed him that the body was scheduled for the "anatomy board." The son stated his preference to have the body released to a funeral home. The OCME employee assured him the body was still available. However, on May 11, 2022 the family learned from the funeral director that Ms. Hill's body had already been cremated without their consent or knowledge. The lawsuit alleges that the OCME's actions caused severe emotional distress and trauma to Ms. Hill's family. The family is seeking monetary damages to compensate for their suffering and anguish.
The family's attorneys Kim Parker and Governor Jackson stated, "The unnecessary and unlawful cremation of our client's loved one has caused immense and irreparable emotional pain and suffering. Cremating a deceased individual against the wishes of the next of kin goes against basic human decency and violates legal and ethical norms. Our clients are distraught that their last chance to say goodbye and pay final respects has been taken from them. No child should have to endure such callous disregard for their grief and loss. The pain caused by this wrongful cremation can never truly be undone. But we will do everything within the power of the law to ensure those at fault are held responsible and that no other family has to suffer the same injustice."
More on Wisconsin Eagle
Cremation errors where the wrong body is incinerated, or cremation occurs without consent from next of kin, happen with disturbing frequency. These incidents leave grieving families with further trauma and without the chance to properly lay their loved one to rest. Cremation misidentification is a serious issue that highlights the need for improved processes and technology in the death care system.
According to available estimates, cremation misidentification occurs frequently across the country. In many cases, families do not find out about the mix-up until after cremation has already occurred. The consequences can be devastating for those who were expecting to hold a funeral and inter their loved one. Factors that contribute to cremation misidentification include paperwork mix-ups, improper identification of remains, and unauthorized cremation requests. Mortuaries and crematories often rely on manual paperwork systems that are prone to human error. Identification checks prior to cremation, if they occur at all, are often cursory. In some tragic cases, bodies have been cremated without any notification to the next of kin.
Advocates argue that the death care industry needs to implement modern technologies like barcode scanning and electronic record systems to reduce misidentification errors. More stringent identification protocols before cremation authorization could also help, such as using fingerprint or dental record matching. Families should also be educated about the risks and encouraged to double check all paperwork and identification processes.
In the end, even one case of cremation misidentification is too many when it means further torment for families already struggling with loss. With improved processes, oversight and technology, the death care system can and should do better to prevent these tragic incidents going forward.
More on Wisconsin Eagle
About Attorney Kim Parker
Kim Parker is an accomplished civil attorney dedicated to representing individuals in Maryland and Washington D.C. She has over 30 years of experience handling personal injury, civil rights litigation and bankruptcy matters. Kim has represented clients in other high-profile cases, including representing the family of Henrietta Lacks in a civil rights lawsuit, working alongside renowned Civil Rights Attorney Benjamin Crump. With her extensive legal background and client-centered approach, Kim is dedicated to fighting for justice and helping her clients navigate the complex legal system. Kim holds a Bachelor's degree from John Jay College, and a J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law.
kpcounsel.com
About Attorney Governor Jackson, III
Governor Jackson III has almost 20 years of experience litigating complex civil claims, resulting in multi-million-dollar recoveries for clients against health care providers and private companies related to issues such as brain injury, medical malpractice, false imprisonment, and negligent hiring. Governor also advises corporate clients on transactional matters to ensure they are fully informed of risks. Licensed to practice law in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Texas, Governor began his legal career at the Baltimore City Solicitor's Office. While there, he directed the defense and settlement of a $32 million race discrimination lawsuit against the Baltimore City Police Department. Governor holds a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Tulsa and a J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law. He has handled numerous high-profile matters in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Texas, earning a reputation as a formidable opponent in the courtroom.
governorjacksonlaw.com
Case: Hill vs. State of Maryland, Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Case No.: 24-C-23-002127
The family's attorneys Kim Parker and Governor Jackson stated, "The unnecessary and unlawful cremation of our client's loved one has caused immense and irreparable emotional pain and suffering. Cremating a deceased individual against the wishes of the next of kin goes against basic human decency and violates legal and ethical norms. Our clients are distraught that their last chance to say goodbye and pay final respects has been taken from them. No child should have to endure such callous disregard for their grief and loss. The pain caused by this wrongful cremation can never truly be undone. But we will do everything within the power of the law to ensure those at fault are held responsible and that no other family has to suffer the same injustice."
More on Wisconsin Eagle
- Aries Industries Announces New Maryland/Delaware Dealer
- Earn passive income through DAY Miner cloud mining in 2025
- Vane Airport Media Inc, The Best Travel Idea of 2025
- Gold Coast Health Plan Distributes $225,000 for Fire Relief and Preparedness Efforts
- The Dallas Group of America, Inc. Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Landmark Facility
Cremation errors where the wrong body is incinerated, or cremation occurs without consent from next of kin, happen with disturbing frequency. These incidents leave grieving families with further trauma and without the chance to properly lay their loved one to rest. Cremation misidentification is a serious issue that highlights the need for improved processes and technology in the death care system.
According to available estimates, cremation misidentification occurs frequently across the country. In many cases, families do not find out about the mix-up until after cremation has already occurred. The consequences can be devastating for those who were expecting to hold a funeral and inter their loved one. Factors that contribute to cremation misidentification include paperwork mix-ups, improper identification of remains, and unauthorized cremation requests. Mortuaries and crematories often rely on manual paperwork systems that are prone to human error. Identification checks prior to cremation, if they occur at all, are often cursory. In some tragic cases, bodies have been cremated without any notification to the next of kin.
Advocates argue that the death care industry needs to implement modern technologies like barcode scanning and electronic record systems to reduce misidentification errors. More stringent identification protocols before cremation authorization could also help, such as using fingerprint or dental record matching. Families should also be educated about the risks and encouraged to double check all paperwork and identification processes.
In the end, even one case of cremation misidentification is too many when it means further torment for families already struggling with loss. With improved processes, oversight and technology, the death care system can and should do better to prevent these tragic incidents going forward.
More on Wisconsin Eagle
- Kelvin Emtech and Colm Engineering Unveil Strategic Joint Venture, to Boost Data Center and Building M&E Capabilities
- Citizens for West Virginia Election Integrity Calls for Urgent Reforms to Safeguard State Elections
- Patton Launches SFP-based RS-232/422/485 Serial Device Server
- Local Tech Entrepreneur Partners with WonderSouq To Offer Downtown Medford Businesses a Virtual City Experience
- Boston Bridal Atelier Enhances Luxury Experience with New Bridal Shop Location
About Attorney Kim Parker
Kim Parker is an accomplished civil attorney dedicated to representing individuals in Maryland and Washington D.C. She has over 30 years of experience handling personal injury, civil rights litigation and bankruptcy matters. Kim has represented clients in other high-profile cases, including representing the family of Henrietta Lacks in a civil rights lawsuit, working alongside renowned Civil Rights Attorney Benjamin Crump. With her extensive legal background and client-centered approach, Kim is dedicated to fighting for justice and helping her clients navigate the complex legal system. Kim holds a Bachelor's degree from John Jay College, and a J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law.
kpcounsel.com
About Attorney Governor Jackson, III
Governor Jackson III has almost 20 years of experience litigating complex civil claims, resulting in multi-million-dollar recoveries for clients against health care providers and private companies related to issues such as brain injury, medical malpractice, false imprisonment, and negligent hiring. Governor also advises corporate clients on transactional matters to ensure they are fully informed of risks. Licensed to practice law in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Texas, Governor began his legal career at the Baltimore City Solicitor's Office. While there, he directed the defense and settlement of a $32 million race discrimination lawsuit against the Baltimore City Police Department. Governor holds a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Tulsa and a J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law. He has handled numerous high-profile matters in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Texas, earning a reputation as a formidable opponent in the courtroom.
governorjacksonlaw.com
Case: Hill vs. State of Maryland, Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Case No.: 24-C-23-002127
Source: The Law Offices of Kim Parker, P.A.
Filed Under: Government
0 Comments
Latest on Wisconsin Eagle
- How Technology is Making the Florida Court System More Accessible
- DivX Unveils Revamped Guide on Mastering PS4 Streaming & Media Playback
- Discover the Culinary Heart of Le Marche: A 5-Night Food & Wine Tour + Farm to Table Cooking Classes in Italy's Hidden Gem
- The One Experience™, Inc. Announces Presenting Sponsors and Partners for Flagship Event
- Introducing HOME-OMETRY, the Social Media Network for Real Estate
- 1Director Closes Pre-Seed Fundraising Round with Investments from NYC and San Francisco
- Joe Seager Named President of Cutting Edge Fabrication
- Cascade Releases its 11th Annual IT Asset Disposition Benchmarking Report
- Heartfelt Exploration of Moral Injury and Leadership in Law Enforcement
- Italian iGaming Landscape Expands with Notable Merger: Gaming Report Acquires Gaming Insider
- Retrospec Appoints Nick Marvik as New Head of Growth to Lead eCommerce Expansion
- Robinson bolsters its automated manufacturing capabilities
- $27 Million Funding; Coverage on Sanjay Gupta/CNN for Treatment of Suicidal Depression; Nasdaq Tier Uplisting: NRx Pharmaceuticals: Stock Symbol: NRXP
- Advanced HDR by Technicolor Enables 2024 UEFA Championship's French Broadcast in High Dynamic Range
- ®Grammy Award Winner Alex Cuba releases new single "El Día Más Triste"
- Performentor, LLC Announces 2025 Unleash People Energy® Award Winners
- LAIIER Closes Oversubscribed US$4M Seed Extension Funding Round, Led by Closed Loop Partners
- Deep Learning Robotics (DLRob) Secures European Patent Office Approval for Revolutionary Robot Learning Technology
- Turbocharge Small- and Medium-Size Business Financing with Faster Funding's Innovative Business Credit Building and Financing Suite
- Inframark's Oklahoma City Team Wins OWEA Awards, Exemplary Employer Accolade