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Complaints lead to suit for casket fraud |
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Written by DeadGirl
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Sunday, 05 September 2004 |
Woman wrote to officials, including Bush, to have company closed.
The Associated Press
September 5, 2004
BATON ROUGE (AP) — Answering an advertisement in the American Legion magazine four years ago, Adelaide Keesing believed she found a bargain: an 18-gauge steel casket for $1,100 plus $450 shipping and handling.
But her bargain was too good to be true. When she needed the casket delivered, it never arrived.
So, the feisty 81-year-old Baton Rouge resident has spent the past year writing letters and talking to every government official she could think of, including mailing a letter to President Bush, in an attempt to shut down Celestial Life Planning Inc.
“Dishonesty is not something I like to expect,†Keesing said.
On Aug. 20, her efforts paid off. The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office filed a civil suit there seeking to force Celestial Life Planning Inc. to stop advertising and entering into new contracts with customers. The suit also seeks at least $45,000 restitution for 28 known victims, including Keesing.
The suit alleges Celestial failed to deliver purchased caskets, never paid refunds and did not deposit the legal minimum into trust accounts for consumers prepaying for funerals.
“In our view, this is outrageous,†said Barbara Petito, spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania attorney general. “They are not waiting on a washing machine. They are waiting for a casket.â€
The suit against Celestial also alleges the company falsely claimed a relationship between itself and fraternal and veterans’ organizations, including the Fraternal Order of Police and the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars.
“If national organizations trust us, it goes without saying you can, too!†the company posted on its Web site.
Celestial lost its licensing agreement with those groups two years ago, according to the lawsuit. Keesing bought a casket from the Pennsylvania-based Celestial Life Planning Inc. for herself in 2000 bearing the emblem of the Army Air Corps because she served as an Army nurse at a mental hospital during World War II.
Her best friend, Marie Touchet, and aunt, Catherine Lewis, also purchased similar caskets honoring their war service. The three women were to receive their caskets from Celestial when they died. When Touchet died last year, her casket never arrived. Keesing then asked for refunds for the two other caskets purchased for herself and aunt.
“I’m still waiting on it,†she said.
Keesing and Rabenhorst Funeral Home East Manager Wayne Laird said that Celestial’s president, Joseph Stabile, claimed the casket was delayed in Atlanta and asked the funeral home to supply a casket. Stabile directed Rabenhorst to supply the casket and promised to reimburse the funeral home, according to an invoice Stabile faxed to Laird.
With the written confirmation in hand, Rabenhorst supplied the casket for Touchet’s funeral, Laird said. Rabenhorst never received payment for the casket, Laird said.
“This man has no conscience,†Laird said. “It’s a scam. He’s preying on the elderly.â€
Celestial’s lawyer, Paul Elias, released a statement at the time the suit was filed saying his office was still reviewing the complaint. He said the complaints represent 1 percent of the company’s total business.
Keesing said preying on veterans and their families is a tactic that especially offends her.
“We lost $1,500,†Keesing said. “It hurts your feelings, but we’re not destitute like some veterans.â€
Keesing has asked to speak to the American Legion’s national leaders, she said. She wrote letters to Veterans Affairs and spoke to them again when they answered the letter she mailed to Bush.
She also visited Rep. Richard Baker, R-Baton Rouge, who wrote a letter to Celestial asking for payment and contacted the Pennsylvania attorney general on Keesing’s behalf.
“I want to do something about all the veterans involved,†Keesing said.
Keesing also said she feels responsible for the casket Rabenhorst provided for Touchet. Rabenhorst has refused to bill Keesing for the casket, she said.
“I’m still willing to pay for the casket,†Keesing said. “I know it’s what she would have wanted. That’s not the way we paid bills in life.â€
Funeral-services scams are not prevalent in Louisiana or Pennsylvania, said spokeswomen for the Louisiana and Pennsylvania attorney generals. Most funeral businesses are legitimate, they said.
“Typically, it’s not something we get a whole lot of complaints on,†said Jennifer Clark, spokeswoman for the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office.
Anyone with a complaint against Celestial Life can contact the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office at (800) 441-2555.
Complaints about other companies can be filed with the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office by calling (225) 326-6465 in Baton Rouge or (800) 351-4889.
http://www.theadvertiser.com/news/html/FC650A68-515F-468E-BA04-B224443D0068.shtml |
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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
Quote Repository
“The longer I live, the more I am certain that the great difference between the great and the insignificant, is energy - invincible determination--a purpose once fixed, and then death or victory.” Sir Thomas Bowell Buxton
Shirtless and Sculpted
The Men of Mortuaries 2008 Calendar is now available! All sale proceeds benefit KAMMCARES, a breast cancer foundation.
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