Family sues Forest Lawn when they discover wrong body at Covina viewing

Three relatives of a man who died earlier this year are suing Forest Lawn, alleging they all suffered emotional distress and that one family member had a heart attack when the wrong body was presented during a scheduled viewing.

The plaintiffs are all family members of the late Joseph Andrew Espinoza, including his widow, Ahlam M. Espinoza. Their West Covina Superior Court lawsuit alleges negligence, breach of contract and both intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress. They seek unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, plus attorneys’ fees and costs.

A Forest Lawn representative said Friday that he could not comment on pending litigation.

According to the suit, the family members paid about $19,500 for the memorial and viewing at Forest Lawn Covina Hills.

“On the day of the memorial service, plaintiffs were shocked as plaintiffs and their families showed up to the viewing room to find the incorrect body present,” the suit states.

Dozens of relatives were present for the viewing, the suit further states.

“This created chaos for the plaintiffs and their family members in this case as there was heightened confusion about where the decedent was, why there was this mistake, and why were there two viewings scheduled at the same time,” according to the suit.

Plaintiff George Levario, an uncle of Espinoza, had a heart attack due to the heightened stress and confusion of the proceeding, the suit states.

Forest Lawn representatives then told the family members that there was a mix-up as to the viewing time and arrangements for their family and another and that there was an ongoing search to bring their loved one’s body to the viewing, the suit states.

Forest Lawn knew, or should have known, that treating the family members as alleged in their lawsuit would “devastate” them and cause them “extreme hardship,” the suit states.