Cengage Advantage Books: Law for Business 18th Edition by John Ashcroft ,Janet Ashcroft

Exercise 8

After Pam Pickens died, her mother, Jane Gilmore, made funeral arrangements with Connally/Compton Funeral Home. She chose the "Wilbert Way," which involved a ceremonial lowering of the casket and sealing of the vault. At the graveside service, a Wilbert Vault employee attached a pair of vice grips to a lowering device and began lowering the casket into the vault. There was a "big boom," and the casket fell to the bottom of the vault. The casket partially opened; Pam's arm was exposed; and several mementos spilled out. There were screams. Everyone was visibly upset. Gilmore and the Pickens family sued Connally/Compton, alleging it was responsible for Wilbert's actions. Was it?