Attorney sues graveyard owner over decade long attempt to gain deed to grave site

GRETNA – An attorney is suing a Metairie graveyard claiming that it has delayed for nearly a decade the transfer of a grave site to him.

J. Robert Ates filed suit against SCI Louisiana Funeral Services Inc., Service Corporation International, Dignity Memorial, Woodlawn Garden Memories and its insurer in the 24th Judicial District Court on April 10.

Ates alleges that he entered into a contract to buy a gravesite for $17,575 in the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Metairie on June 19, 2004. The plaintiff asserts that at the time of the contract he wrote a check for 10 percent of the purchase price and the contract allowing for the balance due to be payable by performance and non-monetary terms, which he claims to have completed.

The plaintiff alleges the process of trying to gain the title and deed of the property has been time consuming has caused damage to him.

The defendant is accused of breach of contract and deceptive trade practices.

An unspecified amount in damages is sought for expenses and losses.

Ates is represented by Paula Adams Ates of the Destrehan-based Ates Law Firm.

The case has been assigned to Division B Judge Cornelius E. Regan.

Case no. 737-369.