A grieving daughter has filed a lawsuit against a funeral home and its associates, alleging the mishandling of her mother and sister's remains following a tragic accident. Tiffany Smith-Cofield initiated the complaint on December 6, 2024, in Harris County District Court against Family Care Mortuary LLC, Dianne Cotton Brown, and Javian Major.
The lawsuit stems from the aftermath of a devastating car accident on June 19, 2023, which claimed the lives of Tiffany's mother, Sherie Smith, and her sister, Britney Joy Murphy. The plaintiff accuses the defendants of negligence and fraud in handling funeral arrangements. According to the petition, shortly after the accident, Javian Major contacted Tiffany via Instagram under false pretenses as a funeral director for Family Care Mortuary. Despite assurances from Dianne Cotton Brown that Major was their employee acting on behalf of the mortuary, it was later revealed that he was not licensed as a funeral director in Texas. The complaint alleges that Major misrepresented his role to solicit business for Family Care Mortuary.
Tiffany claims she was charged exorbitant fees for services that were either inadequately performed or not rendered at all. She recounts being quoted $18,000 for her sister’s cremation and transportation of her mother's body to California. Additionally, she accuses Major of attempting to introduce her to a lawyer under false pretenses to secure a referral fee from potential personal injury litigation.
In seeking justice through this lawsuit, Tiffany is pursuing various forms of relief from the court. She seeks monetary compensation exceeding $1 million for damages including severe mental anguish caused by the alleged mishandling of her loved ones' remains. Furthermore, she demands punitive damages due to what she describes as gross negligence by the defendants. The petition also invokes violations under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA), claiming deceptive conduct by Family Care Mortuary and its representatives.
Representing Tiffany Smith-Cofield are attorneys Omar Khawaja and Alan B. Daughtry. The case is assigned to Judge Gerardo Perez in Harris County District Court with Case ID 2024-85449.