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| Another suit filed against fugitive pilot | ||
| Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO -- A third class-action lawsuit has been filed against the pilot who allegedly stockpiled thousands of boxes of human ashes instead of scattering the from his plane. Attorneys filed suit on behalf of 13 families Wednesday in Sacramento Superior Court against the Vieira Flying Service, accused of failing to scatter nearly 5,200 boxes of human ashes. Owner Allan Vieira, 52, has disappeared. "It was a heartless act by Vieira in that he not only failed to scatter the cremains, but compounded this malicious act by misrepresentation to the next of kin, Arnold Laub said. |
by certifying to them that he, in fact, scattered the remains as requested," attorney The suit also names numerous mortuaries, saying they negligently failed to follow up to make sure the remains were scattered as requested. Authorities discovered the boxes in storage on June 5 after one of the facility's walls began to collapse. It was later revealed that Vieira did not have a pilot's license or a business license for the service. It was the third lawsuit filed against Vieira in a little over a week. Laub said several more suits probably would be filed and eventually consolidated. The claims could ultimately represent as many as 7,000 people asking for more than $30 million, he said. |
Contra Costa sheriff's officials have indentified almost 4,500 of the remains so far. Officials will attempt to identify the other approximately 700 unlabeled boxes by searching for metal medallions with personal information. But many will ultimately go unidentified. The remains are being held by the sheriff's office because a temporary restraining order prevents their being released to the mortuaries. Many relatives and their lawyers do not want the mortuaries to get them back. A hearing on July 3 is scheduled on a request for a permanent restraining order, and the recent suit calls for the remains to be returned to the families. Vieira disappeared shortly after the discovery of the boxes. He is wanted on suspicion of felony grand theft. Original Clipping (Warning: Large File, Long Download Time) Articles Page |