Funeral Home Mix-Up Prompts Lawsuit From Grieving Family In New Jersey

A family in Camden, New Jersey, is suing Boyd Funeral Home after claiming it placed a stranger’s body in their late loved one’s clothing for a viewing. The family of Addison Jenkins, who died in February 2023, says they were horrified to find an unfamiliar person in Jenkins’ place.

The lawsuit, filed on Sept. 5, describes how the family discovered the mistake when they arrived on Feb. 17 to inspect Jenkins’ casket. They say they were “shocked, upset, confused and full of tears” upon seeing someone else’s face in Jenkins’ clothes. According to the complaint, they immediately tried to speak with the funeral director, who was not present, leaving a makeup artist to insist the body was indeed Jenkins.

The family alleges that a later attempt by the funeral home to confirm the identity with photos only deepened their concerns. They noted that unique features, such as Jenkins’ cauliflower ear and a visible foot infection, were missing. It wasn’t until the following day, during a second viewing, that they confirmed the body was Jenkins.

In a statement, the family’s attorney, Michael Shaw, condemned the funeral home’s handling of the situation, saying it “lacked empathy” and worsened the family’s grief. Shaw claimed that the funeral home’s actions were “irresponsible” and accused it of “gaslighting” the family by insisting on the wrong identity.

The lawsuit seeks both financial compensation and punitive damages, asking for a jury trial to hold Boyd Funeral Home accountable for its alleged negligence.