N.J. Family Says Cemetery Buried a Stranger in Their Reserved Plot and Refuses to Fix the Mistake, Lawsuit Claims

A New Jersey family is suing after discovering a stranger was buried in a grave they bought years ago. According to the lawsuit, the family bought plots at Cedar Park and Beth El Cemeteries to ensure future burials. They say a new burial in a relative’s grave broke their trust earlier this year.

The family visited the cemetery on June 4 and found a stranger buried in one of their graves, court documents show. They called the Jewish Community Center of Paramus, which manages family burial sections in the cemetery, in shock after seeing what they saw. They said the remains should go to their family’s grave.

The lawsuit claims the response distressed them. Representatives allegedly refused to move the body and offered plots in a different cemetery instead of accepting responsibility. The family refused, saying they choose their graves for religious, personal, and long-term family reasons and cannot replace them.

Later that month, the lawsuit claims the family met with a community center rabbi again to request the burial be undone and the deceased moved. The rabbi reportedly forbade removal. According to the legal complaint, another family member was denied a second chance to explain the religious significance of fixing the situation.

Compromise of their loved ones’ burial space has caused emotional suffering for the family. The cemetery and community center were negligent in not verifying the person’s identity and placement before burial, according to their lawsuit. A jury trial and financial damages are desired because the error and refusal to resolve it have caused them distress and uncertainty about their burial plans.

Sources
Information based on publicly available lawsuit descriptions.