Taphophilia.(dot) Com - Wal-Mart absolved in bones lawsuit

Welcome

Taphophilia (dot) Com...
A repository of morbid curiosities:
Thanatology and Taphophile Issues, Cemetery,
Funeral Industry and Death Related News.

What's at Taph?

Taphophilia Home

Thanatology Forums

Taphophile Weblinks

Taph's Article Archive

Contact Deadgirl

Donating to Taphophilia

Book Library

Deadgirl Recommends

Dig Deeper

Literature

Topics at Taphophilia

Deadgirl's Dictionary

Cemetery Photography

Industry News

Carved in Stone

A Taphophilia Thank You...

Taphophilia (dot) Com would not be possible without the knowledge, experience and talent of DarkestWeb. From
its conception and early development, DarkestWeb
was faced with many challenges; from inspiring and motivating, to providing guidance and direction. The continued dedication and support has produced results greater than ever expected, and for this, I owe a huge debt of gratitude.

Cemetery Snapshot

Announcements

Graveyards of Chicago:
The People, History, Art, and Lore of Cook County Cemeteries
By Matt Hucke And Ursula Bielski. Discover a Chicago That Exists Just Beneath the Surface - About Six Feet Under! Take a tour of Chicago's permanent residents! Please visit the Lake Claremont Press website to purchase your copy of Graveyards of Chicago today!

Green-Wood Cemetery Arcadia Publishing announces the release of Alexandra Mosca's historic account of one of New York's most famous cemeteries. Aracdia Publishing's Images of America series has an extensive catalog of many cemetery publications! Please visit Arcadia Publishing to purchase your copy of Green-Wood Cemetery and to browse other available titles!

Men of Mortuaries Calendar
To purchase your 2008 calendar, learn more about the KAMMCARES Foundation, or to be featured in the 2009 calendar, please visit Men of Mortuaries.

Epitaphs: The Magazine for Cemetery Lovers By Cemetery Lovers
For information regarding subscriptions, single issues, submission guidelines, deadlines, classifieds or advertising for future issues, please visit The Cemetery Club.

Guardians of the Soul: Angels and Innocents, Mourners and Saints, Indiana's remarkable cemetery sculpture
with photography by John Bower and foreword by Claude Cookman is now
available. Please visit
Studio Indiana for more information.

West Springfield Massachusetts: Stories Carved in Stone by Rusty Clark features information on early New England gravestone carvers with more than two hundred photos and illustrations. Please visit the Dog Pond Press website.

Wal-Mart absolved in bones lawsuit

Written by DeadGirl
Wednesday, 18 May 2005
By Sally Apgar This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Hawaii-A circuit judge this week dismissed claims against Wal-Mart for allegedly desecrating human remains during the recent construction of its complex on Keeaumoku Street. Judge Victoria Marks ruled Monday that Paulette Kaleikini, who claims a cultural tie with ancestors buried at the site, and Hui Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawaii Nei, an organization that cares for the reburial of native Hawaiian remains, have no right to pursue their monetary claims against the retail giant. Marks ruled that under state law, the two cannot pursue desecration claims because they have no property interest in the land on which the ancestral bones were found. She said the two cannot seek other claims because the state, rather than Wal-Mart, has custody of the bones. Marks also ruled the two could not pursue claims alleging infliction of emotional distress for negligently handling of the remains because they could not prove a direct blood tie. Wal-Mart spokeswoman Cynthia Lin was pleased with the decision. She said, "Wal-Mart has made every effort to follow the state's direction, and we remain committed to doing so." Lin said, "We all recognize that this has been a difficult process for all parties involved, but we do hope that the iwi (bones) will have a final place of rest." Moses Haia, one of the attorneys representing Kaleikini, was disappointed with the ruling. Haia said that they will seek existing claims against the state and city governments. Trial is scheduled for July 18. Haia said, "Ultimately, we want to make sure a Wal-Mart never happens again," in which bones are desecrated and the city and state do nothing. Haia said Kaleikini may appeal Marks' ruling on the emotional distress claim. About 44 sets of bones were found on the Wal-Mart site after construction began in December 2002. There are lingering questions about the ancestry of the bones. While some groups claim they are the bones of native Hawaiians, there is historic evidence that suggests they were multi-ethnic victims of a smallpox epidemic in 1853. Historic records indicate a hospital operated on the site, and the practice at the time was to quickly bury smallpox victims to contain the disease. In May 2003, Kaleikini and others visited the construction site and claim they saw the bones exposed to the sun in a trench littered with garbage that lay near portable toilets. Kaleikini claims to have seen a stray cat grab a bone. The suit alleges that officials with Wal-Mart, the state's Historic Preservation Division and the city violated state laws that protect human remains and grave sites. In a separate action, the attorney general is investigating claims the remains were desecrated when archaeologists glued remains and marked them with permanent markers. http://starbulletin.com/2005/05/18/news/story5.html

< Prev		Next >

[ Back ]

SEO by Artio

Taphophilia?

taphophilia (taf′ō-fil′ē-ă)

ORIGIN:
From the Greek words taphos, meaning "tomb" or "sepulcher" and philia, meaning "attraction or affinity to something, in particular the love or obsession with something"

DEFINITION: 1. An excessive interest in graves and cemeteries. 2. A love or fondness for funerals, graves, and cemeteries. 3. In psychiatry, a morbid attraction to graves and cemeteries