Contact: Todd Hallidy
Phone: (302) 577-8314
(Wilmington, DE) — Attorney General M. Jane Brady today announced that the Consumer Protection Unit has filed a civil enforcement suit in the Court of Chancery in connection with neglect and mismanagement of the Riverview Cemetery. The suit specifically names Riverview Cemetery Corp., some local and state Odd Fellows organizations, and the Pennsylvania Knights of Pythias as defendants.
According to the complaint, Riverview Cemetery was seriously neglected and mismanaged by the defendants during the last five years. Among other things, the Perpetual Care Fund supporting the cemetery was almost completely depleted by the defendants, and maintenance and grounds keeping obligations were neglected or abandoned. Consumers purchasing grave sites or burials at Riverview were not told of the severity of the problems at Riverview, and promises to properly maintain existing graves were not kept.
Approximately forty-five families have filed complaints with this Office involving these various issues. In one extreme instance, a consumer complained that her husband was buried at Riverview two years ago, but Riverview apparently buried him in an unmarked grave, and incorrectly recorded the location of the grave. To this day, the widow is unable to find her husband’s grave, and has not been able to properly mourn him. His headstone remains propped against a tree.
“When these complaints are considered collectively, this situation is deplorable,” said Attorney General M. Jane Brady. “Some families have been unable to appropriately mourn their relatives, and all of the families deserve, and were promised, a well-maintained resting place for their loved ones.”
The suit seeks an injunction, a full accounting, the creation of a receivership, restitution, costs, fees and penalties.

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