November 06, 2024
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N.H. crematorium faces another lawsuit

SEABROOK, N.H. – An unlicensed crematorium faces yet another lawsuit, this one brought by four Maine families who claim the crematorium mishandled their loved ones’ remains.

Jill Stinchcomb, her sister Jeri Painten and three other families seek money for negligence and emotional distress from Bayview Crematorium’s owners, Linda and Larry Stokes; its former owner, Linda Stokes’ son Derek Wallace; and several funeral homes and directors.

The suit, filed Monday in Cumberland County Superior Court in Portland, Maine, is similar to another class-action suit filed on behalf of 36 Massachusetts families by the same Florida lawyer, David Charlip. Charlip said he also would represent a group of New Hampshire families who plan to sue.

Attorneys for the Stokeses and Wallace were not immediately available to comment Wednesday afternoon.

Bayview was shut down in February after authorities executing a warrant for financial records found a decomposing body in a broken refrigeration unit, two bodies in the same oven and ashes without identification. Bayview had operated for six years, but had never registered with or been inspected by the state, as required by law.


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