PORT ANGELES — A Bremerton man has filed a class action lawsuit against a Tampa, Fla.-based company that operates three cemeteries in Clallam County.
Kelly Miller filed the lawsuit against Keystone America Inc. in Clallam County Superior Court on Dec. 17.
The lawsuit accuses Keystone of “unfair and unlawful business practice,” saying that it sells cemetery services without filing with the state Funeral and Cemetery Board first.
Keystone operates Dungeness Cemetery in Sequim, Mount Angeles Memorial Park in Port Angeles and Sequim View Cemetery, the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit alleges that Keystone sells merchandise and services on a before-need basis through prearranged contracts against state law.
Keystone America Chief Executive Officer Steven Tidwell could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Authority required
State law requires a cemetery authority, in this case Keystone, to file a contract with the Funeral and Cemetery Board before entering a prearranged contract with a client, Miller’s lawyers allege.
Miller is being represented by Bainbridge Island-based Mundt MacGregor, LLP.
The lawsuit further alleges that Keystone accepts payment for the prearranged contracts against state law, which constitutes an “unfair practice.”
Miller seeks a ruling by Keystone that taking money for unapproved contracts violates state law, that Keystone stop making unapproved contracts and that he receive a refund for the $2,073.80 he paid to Mount Angeles Memorial Park after his mother’s death in June 2007.
Mount Angeles Memorial Park General Manager Randy Baugh could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Keystone has until Wednesday to respond to the lawsuit.
One of the largest funeral service providers in the nation, Keystone operates 195 funeral homes and 15 cemeteries in 31 states and Ontario, Canada.
Funeral home affiliates listed on the Keystone Web site, www.keystonegroup.com, include Harper-Ridgeview Funeral Chapel in Port Angeles, Mount Olympus Funeral Home in Forks, Olympic Cremation Association in Port Angeles and Sequim Valley Chapel.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
