Operators of a company that arranges third-party cremation services violated a Federal Trade Commission Act rule by making deceptive statements to consumers and withholding remains and more the Department of Justice said Friday.
Both the Justice Department and the FTC announced civil enforcement action against Legacy Cremation Services LLC, Funeral & Cremation Group of North America LLC and Anthony Joseph Damiano for these practices. The defendants may have to provide monetary relief and could face civil penalties.
“Consumers are particularly vulnerable when a loved one passes,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department of Justice is committed to stopping companies and individuals from profiting off of consumers’ grief by engaging in unlawful and deceptive marketing practices when offering funeral arrangements.”
According to a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, the defendants misrepresented where services would be provided in addition to providing deceptive pricing statements and withholding remains from loved ones. These actions violate the FTC’s Trade Regulation Rule Concerning Funeral Industry Practices, which prohibits providing consumers with inaccurate price information and requires certain disclosures to consumers regarding pricing for funeral-related goods,” said the Justice Department.
“Preying on consumers when they are dealing with the loss of a loved one is outrageous, and it’s illegal,” said Director Samuel Levine of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The FTC is committed to enforcing the Funeral Rule to protect both grieving consumers and honest funeral homes.”
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