TAMPA - The Loyless Funeral Homes and cemetery on Bruce B Downs Blvd. in Tampa was brought to Hillsborough County Circuit Court on April 6 for allegedly messing up an embalming and causing a body to decompose before a funeral.
The complaint was filed by plaintiff Nerene Prince, who was making funeral and burial arrangements for her deceased son. Prince wanted her son's burial and services to be in St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Prince hired James Memorial Funeral Home in St. Croix for her son's funeral and burial service, and James Memorial hired the defendant to embalm and transport the decedent's body from Tampa to St. Croix.
According to the complaint, Prince was told on Sept. 4, 2020, that her son's body was presentable for a viewing at the funeral service. However, when Prince visited James Memorial to see her son, his body was allegedly disfigured and decomposed with skin missing and organs visible.
As a result, Prince could not have an open casket service for her son.
Loyless is owned by Foundation Partners Group LLC.
The defendant is charged with violating the Florida Statute and negligence.
The plaintiff is represented by Zeberksy Payne Shaw Lewenz LLP of Ft. Lauderdale.