Amentha Hunt has filed a lawsuit against Harrison-Ross Mortuary after claiming she found a stranger in her late uncle’s casket during an April 7 viewing. “It was a guy lying there in my uncle’s suit, but it wasn’t my uncle,” Hunt told KCAL News.
She says the mortuary initially denied the error, prompting her to show photos to prove the body wasn’t Otis Adkinson, who died in February.
The lawsuit, filed alongside Adkinson’s wife, Willie Mae, alleges negligence and emotional distress. “It shouldn’t have happened,” Hunt said. The complaint claims the mix-up delayed the service and left the family with little time for viewing.
Harrison-Ross Mortuary has denied the allegations and is reportedly preparing a cease-and-desist letter. Hunt’s attorney, Elvis Tran, said the mortuary failed in its basic duty of care. “They really need to improve their ways so they don’t do this to another family,” he said.