04-06-2025
Roosevelt Memorial Park sued for $3M+
CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) — After a couple's son was allegedly buried 'in a decrepit, mud-torn, weed and trash-infested section of Roosevelt Memorial Park,' the couple has filed a more than $3 million lawsuit against the burial ground, saying its owners were grossly negligent and reckless.
Grave situation at Roosevelt Memorial Park cemetery continues
10 On Your Side, on a number of occasions over the years, has reported on complaints surrounding Roosevelt Memorial Park, to the point where we were asked not to return.
Attorney Kevin Biniazan filed the lawsuit on behalf of Donald and Vickie Miller, who live in Norfolk and bought a burial site for their son at Roosevelt Memorial Park after his death in December 2020.
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Chesapeake Del. Cliff Hayes claims the top complaint coming into his office is about Roosevelt Memorial Park.
'That's just getting their attention,' Hayes said. 'This is a continuation of the same problems that, over the years, we've heard about. We've been here, we've talked to them, the families have talked to them, and they're not getting anything resolved, and so to see that someone is actually filing a lawsuit, a $3 million lawsuit, ought to be getting their attention.'
The lawsuit alleges Roosevelt Memorial Park violated Virginia's Consumer Protection Act, with the Millers alleging Roosevelt's owners were grossly negligent, reckless and acted under willful conduct.
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'It is egregious,' Hayes said. 'It's bad enough that the service that they're promising to provide, they're not providing, but then it's worse under the conditions, and the timing of your burying your loved one when you're grieving … and dealing with this.'
The complaint states that the employee 'Ms. Knight falsely represented that Revelation Garden was open, with green grass, clear of debris, fenced in, and appropriately maintained.'
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'You don't show up with the body and everybody's in the funeral procession about to say their last goodbyes, and they are standing in some shoddy little hole in the ground as opposed to the pristine place that you promised,' Hayes said. 'Instead, Defendants buried Mr. Miller's son in a decrepit, mud-torn, weed and trash-infested section of Roosevelt Memorial Park.'
Hayes, himself, has at least 20 family members buried at Roosevelt.
'I have family members that are out here,' Hayes said. 'They [the owners] just don't care. They don't care. They just hope that you just keep fighting 'till you give up and go away, but the problem is, the list is so long that something has to be done, and this lawsuit ought to get their attention wherever they are in some other state, or what have you, collecting their money.'
The suit alleges 'Ms. Knight falsely represented that Mr. Miller's son would be buried in the section of 'Revelation Garden' she showed or indicated to Mr. Miller … that she knew at the time … Mr. Miller's son would not be buried in that section of Revelation Garden.'
Said Hayes: 'But it is not the place for people to come and say their last goodbyes to their relatives,' Hayes said. 'I mean, a place where you would think that it'd be taken care of, you shouldn't have to beg anybody to keep up the lawn.'
The suit also notes that, on May 9, 2021, Mother's Day, 'Mr. Miller requested that the grave site be cleaned up for mom's visit. Groundskeeper Dave Campbell assured him it would be cleaned up.'
The suit states that didn't happen, even after failing the family from the start.
'Every complaint and request made by Mr. Miller has been met with knowingly false assurances that something would be done to meet his expectations,' Hayes said.
Hayes calls it cruel, saying Roosevelt's staff has no interest in decency. That's one of the reasons the Millers filed suit.
'Your end of the deal is to pay them,' Hayes said. 'Their end of the deal is to make sure that it's a decent place that they promised when they showed you what you would be getting.'
The lawsuit mentions the defendants as Stonemor, but the company is now called Everstory.
Everstory, while not commenting, did provide a statement.
'Everstory Partners does not comment on pending litigation. We can say, however, that we are committed to working towards a mutually agreeable resolution for the family.'
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