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 want 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 07:56:21 · 17 answers · asked by Billy Jack H 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Other - Business & Finance
People are so gullible. Your story is obviously made up.
THINK.
2007-02-23 08:15:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well Billy Jack, you are responsible for the actions of your children. If the funeral parlor does have insurance for this it would probably fall under vandalism. They would have to file a report with the local authorities and the matter would go before a judge. The court would probably give you the option of paying for the damages or giving your son and the other boy a sentence that more than likely would include some method of making restitution to the funeral parlor, some probation time as well as having a mark on his juvenile record. Why don't you find out how much the funeral home paid for the coffin. I'd be surprised if it was 7K. Work out some agreement with them. If your son shows some remorse for his actions they may figure the scare he received from the incident was enough punishment. Another option: If you own a home and have homeowners insurance there's a good chance this might be covered under the liability section of your policy. I assume your son is living at home.
2016-05-24 03:12:55 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In my opinion your SON should be the one paying.
As to whether you are legally liable it really depends on a few things.
1-The state you live in, in some states the funeral parlor would not be able to sue you unless you were negligent. As your son was working for them, I don't see how a judge would determine you as negligent. Check your state's laws.
2-Your son was on the clock for them. Is it legal for them to employ a 15 year old? Was he doing jobs that are legal to be performed by a 15 year old? If applicable did he have the correct work permits? If the employer knowingly employed your son in direct violation of state law it is doubtful that you would be found liable.
3- Where the hell was their supervisor? At the age of 15 and the time it must have took to break the coffin open, why didn't someone check on them? Bad business move there.
And finally, 4- this is your son & the other kids problem. They are the ones that did it. Your son should go and talk to them (maybe you go, but keep quiet) and apologize and offer to work off the damages. In some states they might not be able to sue you, but him and if the judge finds him liable he'll have to pay anyway.
This sounds like a great opportunity for you to teach your son that all actions can have consequences, whatever you do please don't just pay it and let him off. It will set the example that good ole' dad will buy his way out of trouble, trust me, you don't want that.
Good luck
2007-02-23 08:14:43 · answer #3 · answered by Gem 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
if this goes to court you guys are more than likely going to have to end up paying for the damage the company will not file it on their insurance due the fact that it was not neglance on the companies part just your son. You both are at fault (boys) and you should be responsible for paying for the damages to the coffin. Make your son take responsiblity for his actions. Now the other boy may have caused the most damage but without your son climbing in the action would not have happened so equal blame gets equal punishment
2007-02-23 08:07:21 · answer #4 · answered by Joesph B 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think you need to first look at any agreement your son (and the other boys) signed when they took the job. If it was clearly indicated that they should at no time be getting into a coffin or closing a coffin, then you are responsible. If they have that policy posted anywhere on the premises, you are responsible as they boys violated policy.
If neither is the case, then you could try to fight it. I am thinking that most judges would look at it as yet another example of kids doing reckless and dangerous things and find them at fault. The judge might fine them with community service or make them work off the damages at the funeral home.
You need to see what policies are in place, what they signed and get advice from an attorney.
Good luck - and be thankful it is only money at stake here and not someone's life as it could have been.
2007-02-23 08:07:47 · answer #5 · answered by PamV 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Granted those boys should not have been fooling around like that and thank God your son did not suffocate. The fact of the matter is, they are responsible for damages and you, being his parent has to foot the bill. The coffin would not have gotten damaged if those boys had not been fooling around in the first place. This is a good way to teach your son proper work ethics. He should pay you back.
2007-02-23 08:08:49 · answer #6 · answered by margarita 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Good God People!
If he had died in that coffin you would be paying for the dang thing anyway!
You Need that new Mtv "Stupid JACK*SS KID" insurance.
Its very expensive.
YOu and he should be thankful he was even given the opportunity to work in an established business at the age of15..... for many its not legal to hire at that age.
Sadly he has just proven he is too young for real young adult responsibility. Slap him up side the head and pay the business. Their insurance covers accidents not "dumb**cks".
Make a claim on your homeowners.........its your kid.
What can you claim with regard to the funeral homes negligence.....hiring a moron? or a team of morons.
The funeral homes only negligence was hiring a stupid idiot.
Anything to avoid responsibility!
2007-02-23 08:38:23 · answer #7 · answered by Whats Right/Wrong got to do w/.. 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I'm sure they have insurance. However, if your son and the other kid had been doing what they were supposed to be doing instead of screwing around, the coffin would not have been damaged. Granted, they had to destroy it to get him out, no one is arguing that point, I'm sure. The real point here, though, is that he never should have been in there to begin with. It was his "non-brilliance" (as you said) that caused the problem in the first place.
2007-02-23 08:06:06 · answer #8 · answered by cool_breeze_2444 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I basically agree with Velken's answer, above. Still, the funeral home must carry some form of insurance that covers damage done by employees. I'd check into that. Also, it seems a little weird to have a kid that young working in a funeral home.
2007-02-23 08:05:22 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your son should have respected other people's property better than that. As a parent, I'd pay for it and take half (or all!) of every check he earns until he pays his half ($3500) of the damage. Stupid stunts have consequences. Noone should have to cover that cost except for your son. He's not 3, he's 15. He should know better! I'm pretty sure that if you do make him repay it, he'll think twice before doing something like that again.
2007-02-23 08:03:37 · answer #10 · answered by Velken 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
If the home claim insurance on the coffin, chances are the insurance company are going to want you to repay the amount to them anyway so it's really a situation you can't win.
2007-02-23 17:17:09 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋