The Ohio Attorney General is suing The Serenity Group for failing to deliver grave markers.
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine filed a lawsuit, Tuesday, against The Serenity Group, which operates Floral Hills Memory Gardens cemeteries in Chillicothe and Circleville. The lawsuit charges the company with failure to deliver grave markers to consumers. In May of 2011, the Attorney General and Floral Hills entered into an out-of-court settlement in which the company agreed to resolve complaints filed before and after the settlement. DeWine says Floral Hills did resolve complaints filed before the agreement, but has failed to resolve new complaints.
There are currently 26 unresolved complaints against Floral Hills, and the Attorney General believes additional consumers may have been affected. In their complaints, consumers report estimated damages totaling more than $35,000.
The lawsuit charges The Serenity Group and its owners, Ronald Downey and Joseph Miller, with failure to deliver, a violation of Ohio's Consumer Sales Practices Act. The suit seeks consumer restitution, injunctive relief, and civil penalties.
Consumers who paid Floral Hills for a grave marker or vault that was never delivered should file a complaint with the Ohio Attorney General's Office at www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov or 1-800-282-0515.
Floral Hills cemeteries are located at 4284 US 23 in Chillicothe and 17544 Little Walnut Road in Circleville.
