Family sues funeral home

Monday, May 3, 1999 | 10:20 a.m.

A Las Vegas funeral home was sued for negligence and intentional infliction of mental anguish after a body was allegedly embalmed without permission.

Norman Willis, a Texas resident, filed the suit in District Court on behalf of his family against Harrison-Ross Group Inc., 2071 Las Vegas Blvd. North.

The suit says Willie Maddox Perkins died of natural causes while staying at the Union Plaza hotel-casino on June 20, 1997. Her body was picked up by Palm Mortuaries and transferred to the Harrison-Ross Mortuaries. The suit says the body was embalmed without the family's permission and, as a result, there could be no open-casket funeral.

In addition to the negligence charges, the suit alleges deceptive trade practices and breach of contract.

A representative for Harrison-Ross could not be reached for comment.

archive