R.G. Ortiz Funeral Home is facing a lawsuit by the Department of Consumer and Workers Protection after claims that they exploited grieving families.
DCWP says 48 complaints were submitted against R.G. Ortiz that date back to 2019. In response, they launched an investigation on the business that has eight locations throughout the Bronx, Brooklyn and Manhattan.
According to the suit, alleged complainants claim the funeral home failed to provide services that were paid for, mishandled or misplaced remains, and in some cases forced customers to sift through remains in storage rooms to locate their loved one’s ashes. DCWP also states the funeral home misrepresented the amount of time it would take to return cremated remains and failed to properly repair remains for funeral services.
“Their conduct has left dozens of families in limbo waiting for their loved ones’ remains and, in some cases, even worse,” commissioner for the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection Vilda Vera Mayuga said.