Corboy & Demetrio Attorneys File Complaint Against Burr Oak Cemetery

On Friday, July 10, 2009, attorneys Daniel Kotin, Daniel Kirschner and Matthew Jenkins of the Corboy & Demetrio law firm, filed a complaint in the Circuit Court of Cook County on behalf of Judy Jackson whose deceased husband and mother were interned at Burr Oak cemetery in Alsip, Illinois. The complaint, filed against Perpetua- Burr Oak Holdings of Illinois, LLC, (Burr-Oak) and related corporate entities, alleged that Burr-Oak employees intentionally desecrated and destroyed the graves and remains of Ms. Jackson’s relatives knowing that it would cause emotional distress to her. The complaint also seeks damages for breach of contract.

 The lawsuit was filed to protect the victim’s rights and enable the attorneys to seek an Order of Protection with respect to any and all evidence pertaining to this case.

 Ms. Jackson’s mother, Adrienne Minor, died and was interned at Burr Oak cemetery in March, 1967. Her husband, Wayne Jackson, was buried there in July, 1994. When Ms. Jackson last visited her husband’s grave, she looked for her mother’s grave but could not find it. She inquired as to the location of the grave and cemetery personnel told her they would get back to her. They never did. Upon visiting the cemetery yesterday, she discovered that both graves have been destroyed and the remains and tombstones were missing.

 Attorney Kotin remarked:

 We have heard for days now about the criminal conduct which has resulted in the arrest of Burr Oak employees. With Ms. Jackson’s case, we now can understand that this conduct has harmed families who believed that their loved ones were resting in peace. Some may talk about this conduct as the destruction of graves and tombstones, but it’s really the desecration of a beloved mother and husband that has resulted in a loss far more personal than the movement of dirt and stone.