Flint, MI— The son of longtime Flint City Councilman Eric Mays, Eric HaKeem Deontaye Mays, and his attorneys have filed a lawsuit in the 7th Judicial Circuit Court of Genesee County. The lawsuit alleges violations of Michigan law, fraud, and conspiracy by Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home in Flint and Eric Mays’ four siblings over the handling of his remains.
Mays, who was a third-term councilman, died on Feb. 24, 2024. He was 65.
A March 4, 2024 news release from Lento Law Group said the complaint alleges two of Mays’ siblings, Sherman Mays and Veronica Simon, perpetuated fraud on the Genesee County Medical Examiner’s office by falsely representing to one of its investigators that Mays had no children.
The release states that another sibling, Reggie Mays, who works as a funeral home attendant for Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, perpetuated a separate fraud on the medical examiner’s office by falsely representing to the administrator that he had legal authority as Eric Mays’ brother to authorize the release of his body to the funeral home.
Additionally, the complaint alleges Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home has refused to turn over Mays’ remains to his son, in violation of Michigan law, despite Eric HaKeem Deontaye Mays providing the funeral home with the legally required documentation necessary to authorize the funeral home to do so.
The complaint alleges that Mays’ siblings conspired with the funeral home to defraud the Genesee County Medical Examiner’s office, and that the siblings have unjustly profited from their “fraudulent scheme” by soliciting in-person donations for funeral services, under the premise that they were the next-of-kin.
Lastly, the complaint alleges that the siblings encouraged Eric HaKeem Deontaye Mays to inquire into his father’s life insurance policy and sign a portion of it over to them, despite publicly claiming that Mays did not have a son.
“As we allege in this lawsuit, the Moon Funeral Home is disrespecting the life and legacy of the late Councilman Eric B. Mays by holding his body hostage and refusing to turn it over to his son, and by participating in an unlawful conspiracy with estranged, rogue members of the late councilman’s family to deprive his son his right to lay his father to rest,” said Joseph Cannizzo, Jr., an attorney at Lento Law Group representing Eric HaKeem Deontaye Mays.
“Every child deserves to have a say in their parent’s final affairs,” Cannizzo continued. “Through this legal action, we hope to rectify the legal wrongs we alleged have taken place against Mr. Mays and give him closure during this difficult time while also affording him the opportunity — as is his right — to honor his father’s legacy.”
The lawsuit seeks an order, enjoining Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home from proceeding with any funeral plans or arrangements planned by anyone other than Eric HaKeem Deontaye Mays
The lawsuit also seeks an order, compelling the funeral home to release the late councilman’s body to a funeral home of his son’s choice.
Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home declined to comment on the lawsuit filed by Lento Law Group on behalf of Eric HaKeem Deontaye Mays.
After an adjournment on March 7, 2024, the court hearing has been rescheduled to March 11, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at the 7th Judicial Circuit Court.
Man, tree-apple; apple-tree. Arguing beyond death. If Mays has any children, they all decide.
Shouldn’t his body be released to Eric’s wife? Why would anyone else have a say
It has been confirmed that Councilman Mays was not married.