Sepulcher Rights Lawsuit Lawyers in New York

What Is the Right of Sepulcher?

The "right of sepulcher" dates back hundreds of years in common law. The right of sepulcher is the right to choose and control the burial, cremation, or other final disposition of a human body. Under New York state law, the next of kin of a decedent can commence a lawsuit for a violation of his or her right of sepulcher when a next of kin's right to immediate possession of a decedent's body is interfered with, and the interference causes mental anguish. Our New York sepulcher rights lawsuit attorneys care about your well-being and want to make things right for you and your family.

Have your rights been abused? Call Flanzig & Flanzig, LLP at (866) 794-1112, or contact us online.

How Do Violations Occur?

Interference with one's right of sepulcher can arise under the following circumstances:

• Unauthorized autopsy
• Inadvertent disposition of remains
• Failure to notify next of kin of the death

In New York, the disposition of remains is governed by Public Health Law § 4201; and that “[a]bsent a valid written instrument appointing an agent for that purpose, section 4201 sets forth which individuals shall have priority to make decisions concerning the disposition of remains.”

Exceptions to the Right of Sepulcher

The common-law right of sepulcher cannot infringe upon the expansive authority of the Medical Examiner's Office to discharge its duties in the exercise of its professional discretion.

A medical examiner or coroner has the statutory authority to perform autopsies under certain specified circumstances, including any situations that suggest that death occurred:

• By criminal violence
• By accident
• By suicide
• Suddenly when in apparent health
• When unattended by a physician
• In any suspicious or unusual manner

New York City's Chief Medical Examiner and his or her designees are also expressly authorized to conduct forensic testing, perform pathology, histology, and toxicology testing, and to determine the cause of injuries and/or death. They are further required to notify the appropriate district attorney when, in the judgment of the particular medical examiner, criminality or foul play is indicated. The authority to perform such tests necessarily includes, by implication, the authority to remove organs, tissue samples, and bodily fluids for that specific purpose.

How Flanzig & Flanzig, LLP Can Help

At Flanzig & Flanzig, LLP, we have handled several high-profile loss of sepulcher rights cases. These include the well-known case of the wrongful and negligent disposition of our clients prematurely born baby, which was lost by the hospital and discovered in the commercial laundry. We filed suit against South Nassau Communities Hospital on behalf of the mother. The matter was eventually tried to a six-figure verdict in the Nassau County Supreme Court.

In another matter, we obtained a significant recovery against the City of New York for the failure to notify the family of the death of a loved one. By failing to conduct a proper search, the body was wrongfully buried on Hart Island despite the fact that the family, who lived in the tri-state area, would have taken possession and arrange for a proper family burial. As a result of the failure of the City and the Medical Examiner's office to notify the family the body was placed in a mass grave at Hart Island and ultimately discovered there by the family months later.

An another potential example is a matter where we represented a Brooklyn family in a claim against the New York City Medical Examiner’s Office, Kings County Hospital, and City of New York due to the negligent handling of her deceased son's body.

If you feel that you may have a claim for a violation, call our New York sepulcher rights lawsuit lawyers for a free case evaluation. You can contact us at night or even over the weekend at (866) 794-1112.