A South Gate family has taken a Montebello mortuary to court after, they say, their father's body landed in Mexico in such an advanced, oozing state that it destroyed any hope of a dignified goodbye and left relatives "horrified and devastated," according to their lawsuit.
Virginia Ramos and her two children filed the complaint on March 9 in Los Angeles Superior Court, accusing Risher Mortuary & Cremation Service of mishandling the remains of Santos Ramos, who died Jan. 20, 2024. The suit says the family paid $4,131 for funeral and embalming services, and that when the body arrived in Mexico on March 24, 2024, the receiving funeral establishment reported the remains were in "notorious and advanced decomposition" and "discharged liquids from the face" during the viewing. The mortuary "strongly disputes" the allegations and plans to vigorously defend itself, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The complaint alleges Risher failed to use proper chemicals, did not adequately administer embalming fluid, did not properly seal the body, and handed the procedure off to an apprentice without enough supervision. The filing says "the body was visibly deteriorated and was observed discharging liquids from the facial area throughout the entire duration of the viewing and wake," per the Los Angeles Times.
What California law requires
Under California law, embalming is supposed to be handled only by a licensed embalmer or by an apprentice working under a licensed embalmer's supervision. Licensed funeral establishments must also keep preparation rooms with sanitary flooring, drainage, and ventilation, requirements the complaint says were not met in this case. Those rules appear in the California Business and Professions Code and related regulations, which also spell out standards for storage, sanitation, and transport of human remains.
Mortuary background and community fallout
On its website, Risher Mortuary lists a Montebello address and describes itself as a multigenerational, family-run business that offers embalming and international transfer services. The Ramos family is seeking general and specific damages, including refunds, extra costs they say were incurred in Mexico, and compensation for the loss of a dignified burial. The lawsuit now places the company's practices and licensing squarely under the microscope. Risher Mortuary & Cremation Service
Legal implications
The complaint brings counts for breach of contract, negligence, infliction of emotional distress, and alleged violations of California health and safety rules, and it asks the court to award damages. Families who believe a funeral provider has broken state rules can take their concerns to the California Cemetery and Funeral Bureau, which oversees licensing and discipline for funeral establishments and can investigate allegations of unlicensed practice or unsafe facilities.
