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Judge Grants Class Status To Tri-State Suits
The Associated Press
March 18, 2003
A federal judge granted class-action status Tuesday to hundreds of people suing the operator of the Tri-State Crematory for failing to perform cremations. U.S. District Judge Harold Murphy ruled that next-of-kin of anyone who sent their relatives for cremation at Tri-State from 1988 to 2002 may join the lawsuit.
"We hope their combined power will vindicate their rights and keep this from ever happening again," said Nashville, Tenn., attorney Kathryn Barnett. "It's a tremendous victory for these families, who can now unite in pursuing justice."
The families are seeking monetary damages and a resolution for how the unidentified remains found at the crematory will be handled, she said. Barnett's firm represents about 175 plaintiffs. She didn't know how many others may join the suit.
Tri-State Crematory Operator Ray Brent Marsh and funeral homes in Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama are being sued. About 334 bodies that were supposed to be cremated were found in February 2001. There are 112 bodies that still haven't been identified.