Defense Verdict for Alderwoods (Alabama), Inc.
Feb 26, 2009 Morgan County, Ala.
On February 25, 2009, a Morgan County, Alabama, jury returned a defense verdict for Lightfoot's client, Alderwoods (Alabama), Inc., in an outrage, fraud, breach of contract, and negligence case. The plaintiff alleged that Roselawn Cemetery and Funeral Home in Decatur, which is owned by Alderwoods, had defrauded her in connection with her purchase of a burial space for her deceased husband. She sought punitive damages and mental anguish damages for her outrage and fraud claims. The plaintiff's lowest pretrial demand was $600,000. It took the jury just 20 minutes to return a unanimous verdict for Alderwoods. Before handing the case over to the jury, the judge directed a verdict in favor of Alderwoods' parent company and a local employee of the cemetery. Lightfoot attorneys Stephen Rowe, Drew Kelly, and Wes Gilchrist represented Alderwoods.