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DCA Revokes Lynwood Mortuary's License, Disciplines Key Employees
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 7, 2005
SACRAMENTO — A Southern California mortuary - already on probation for violating state regulations - has lost its license and three of its employees have been disciplined after an inspection by the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) revealed unsanitary conditions and other violations there.
The action by DCA's Cemetery and Funeral Bureau effectively shuts down the business.
The department revoked the licenses of Simpson & McGee Mortuary owners Jessie Lee McGee and Curtis Simpson and embalmer Sandra Joella King. Two of the mortuary's employees, James Sylvester Wesley, Jr. and James Hawthorne, Jr., agreed to a stipulated settlement that puts them on probation for three years.
The penalties against Ms. King and the funeral home go into effect September 16. Those against Mr. Hawthorne and Mr. Wesley begin September 14.
"Simpson & McGee Mortuary just doesn't get it," said Charlene Zettel, Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs. "Consumers have a right to professional behavior at a funeral home."
The violations leading to this latest action were uncovered in the field as the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau was delivering a letter informing the mortuary owners that they were in violation of a May 2003 settlement with the Bureau. The settlement arose from several violations uncovered during an August 2001 inspection.
Simpson & McGee Mortuary and Ms. King have also been ordered to reimburse the Bureau for the cost of the $11,576 investigation. Mr. Wesley was ordered to pay a $1,500 share of that cost.
During the period of their probation, both Mr. Wesley and Mr. Hawthorne will be required to submit quarterly reports to the Bureau declaring under penalty of perjury that they are obeying all laws and regulations. They will also be required to produce any additional reports and submit to any interviews with regulators that the Bureau finds necessary.
DCA's Cemetery and Funeral Bureau licenses and regulates the California funeral and cemetery industries. It also investigates complaints against funeral homes, crematories, state-licensed cemeteries, and individual licensees. For more information, visit www.cfb.ca.gov
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