My 15 year old son works part time at a funeral home after school. He washes the windows, vacuums, dusts, etc… Yesterday my son another young employee decided to start fooling around and in a moment of non-brilliance, my son got inside one of the showroom coffins. The other boy shuts the top and cranks the air tight seal closed. From what I understand now, these coffins do not "re-open", once sealed that is it. Anyway between my son scratching, clawing, kicking the inside of the coffin and the boy on the outside using screwdrivers, sledgehammer & crowbar to pry open the coffin it is completely destroyed. The parlor owner now wants the other boy's parents and myself to pay for this $7,000 coffin. Doesn't the funeral parlor have insurance for such damage? Had they not destroyed the coffin my son would have suffocated in there.
2007-02-23 07:55:25 · 13 answers · asked by Billy Jack H 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
I think you have a case, CNN would love to pick up this story. The coffin should have had a safety door release inside the casket just like the inside of a car trunk.
2007-02-23 08:11:17 · answer #1 · answered by GO HILLARY 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They are perfectly in the right (as much as you may hate hearing it).
1. In no way, were they negligent, or in any way, cause the damage and loss of funds. There is a $7000 loss that was entirely caused by the kids. I think insurance would cover events that would be beyond anyone's control, ie fire, tornado, etc.
2. The other issue is parental liability for crimes and/or damage caused by minors. The thinking behind all those laws, are to try and "force" parents to have more control over kids. Whether the intent of the laws actually work, is another debate. The law is out there.
3. Had he not climbed in the coffin, he would not have been in any danger. Their choice led to the destruction.
Sorry.
2007-02-23 16:50:37 · answer #2 · answered by wendy c 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Had boy wonder not gotten in there in the first place the coffin would have never been damaged trying to get his brilliant butt out of it.
Insurance or not - they funeral home has a right to be made whole, and the includes payment for the coffin your son and his friend destroyed with their behavior.
2007-02-23 08:02:21 · answer #3 · answered by Susie D 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
properly Billy Jack, you're in charge for the strikes of your toddlers. If the funeral parlor does have insurance for this it might in all hazard fall under vandalism. they might ought to record a checklist with the community government and the concern might flow previously a decide. The court docket might in all hazard provide you the alternative of determining to purchase the damages or giving your son and the different boy a sentence that extra beneficial than in all hazard might comprise some approach of becoming restitution to the funeral parlor, some probation time besides as having a mark on his juvenile checklist. Why do no longer you come across out how a lot the funeral domicile paid for the coffin. i could be shocked if it replaced into 7K. artwork out some contract with them. in the journey that your son shows some be apologetic approximately for his strikes they might discern the scare he gained from the incident replaced into adequate punishment. yet another determination: in case you very own a house and have property proprietors insurance there's a reliable hazard this could be lined under the criminal accountability portion of your coverage. i assume your son resides at domicile.
2016-10-16 08:24:51 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since your son was engaged in activities not associated with the duties of his employment, he (as is the other employee involved) is responsible for both his actions and the destruction of the property, namely, the casket. Since he is a minor, YOU are therefore responsible for his actions which cause a financial loss to a business or establishment. The funeral parlor is 100% within their rights to demand restitution, and if they choose to sue you in small claims court, they stand a really good chance at winning.
If I were you, I'd split the difference 50-50 with the parents of the other kid, and then have my son get another job to pay me back every penny that was spent to pay for the casket. If you sit back and do nothing, all you're teaching him is that it's OK to damage things that aren't yours, and you're not teaching him the meaning of the word "responsibility."
2007-02-23 08:14:40 · answer #5 · answered by Team Chief 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You son was probably not acting in the scope of his employment, and, b/c he is a minor, they want you to pay for his negligence. They can sue you to make you pay for the damages you son caused. Now, if they did, it is likely that you could have a good counterclaim against them for their own negligence in leaving a coffin open and unattended where kids - who could not appreciate the dangerousness of the situation - were nearby.
Tell them to take it out of his pay check if they want. If they sue you, their contributory negligence will reduce any award (if they win) significantly.
--Z--
2007-02-23 08:05:45 · answer #6 · answered by Z-Force920 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your son, needs to work is stupid butt off and pay the damages, at least he lived and did not have to be buried in the coffin he messed up. Be grateful and pay the damages and I hope you did something to your stupid kid......
2007-02-23 08:14:11 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would get legal advise on that one, you would think the funeral home would have insurance for things like that. Hopefully though its a sad story but your son doesn't try that again.
2007-02-23 08:02:28 · answer #8 · answered by Tommy's_Sweet_Girl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
with deadly certain get a coffin layer coffin
2007-02-23 08:34:48 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The other kid shut the lid and damaged it with the tools, his parents should have pay
2007-02-23 08:03:30 · answer #10 · answered by Indiana Jones 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋