A family is suing a cemetery in Simi Valley for allegedly burying their loved one's body in the wrong grave site.
The family of Helen Gallick is suing El Rancho Pioneer Cemetery for $5 million alleging breach of contract, fraud and mishandling of human remains. Helen died in 2012 after a series of strokes.
Two more families are planning similar lawsuits.
Eugene Gallick Jr., Helen's son, said the family had been visiting her grave for two years but the cemetery manager called to say Helen's body was not buried where they thought it was buried.
Gallick Jr. said the entire family was traumatized after learning they had been paying their respects at someone else's grave.
"We were putting flowers down on where she wasn't there and there was another guy and stuff in the other grave I guess," he said.
Eugene Gallick Sr. took the news especially hard.
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"I was really upset... I didn't eat for a couple of days," he said.
The family eventually found the right plot and had Helen moved to another cemetery.
The Gallick family's attorney places the blame on the cemetery's previous management.
"There appears to be, clearly, poor management, a lack of accountability," attorney Brian Yorke said.
Leigh-Anne Harrison-Bigbie, the cemetery's new manager, said she can't speak to pending litigation but wants the public to know the new management team put in place a year ago is investigating.
"If something has happened it shouldn't have... so we are doing everything we can to make sure that things get put right," Harrison-Bigbie said.
The Ventura County District Attorney's office is investigating whether any laws were broken.
