Attorney General Kamala D. Harris Sues California Funeral Directors for $14 Million Over Prepaid Funerals
LOS ANGELES -- Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today filed a lawsuit against one of the nation's largest funeral trusts, which pooled the funds of more than 27,000 California consumers who prepaid for funerals for themselves or loved ones, charging that the organization engaged in conspiracy and kickbacks while illegally diverting some $14 million. Attorney General Harris filed the suit, seeking a permanent injunction and restitution to consumers, against the California Master Trust, the California Funeral Directors Association, and other defendants in Los Angeles Superior Court. The suit was filed on behalf of the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau of the Department of Consumer Affairs, which regulates the funeral industry in California. "The defendants preyed upon thousands of Californians at one of the most vulnerable times of their lives," Attorney General Harris said. "This lawsuit will make sure their money goes where it was intended: to pay for their funerals o...