Flint, MI— A judge has ruled Eric Mays’ son has been granted the right to relocate his father’s remains to a funeral home of his choosing on Monday, March 11, 2024.
During the March 11 hearing, Attorney Loyst Fletcher, who represents Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home and Mays’ sister, Veronica Simon, told Judge Brian S. Pickell that his clients “have no objection” to the release of Mays’ body to Eric HaKeem Deontaye Mays and his attorneys at the Lento Law Group.
After a brief recess, Pickell ruled Eric Mays’ siblings were not at fault for proceeding with funeral arrangements because Eric HaKeem Deontaye Mays did not reach out to Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home about his father’s remains within 72 hours after his death, as required by Michigan law.
Pickell referenced Michigan’s Law, section 700.3206 determining the right to a deceased person’s body. The law states, “the rights to a deceased body would go first to the parents if still alive, then to children over the age of 18 and lastly to the deceased’s siblings.”
However, the law also states “if that person cannot be located within 72 hours, refuse the rights to the body, or fail to exercise their rights within 72 hours, they forfeit their rights to the remains.”
Eric HaKeem Deontaye Mays did not reach out to Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home until Feb. 29, more than 72 hours after Eric Mays’ passing.
Ultimately, Pickell ruled Eric HaKeem Deontaye Mays forfeited his rights to his father’s remains by not contacting the funeral home within 72 hours.
“He identified with Flint and much of Flint identified with him,” Pickell said of Mays.
Joseph Cannizzo, an attorney for Lento Law Group, who represents Eric HaKeem Deontaye Mays, said he would be appealing the decision made by the court.
Cannizzo also said he would be issuing an order for the funeral home to release Eric Mays’ body to his son on March 11.
Both Fletcher and Mays’ siblings declined to comment during the hearing on March 11.
After Eric Mays died without a will on Feb. 24, 2024, his only child, Eric HaKeem Deontaye Mays, filed a lawsuit on March 4, 2024 against Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, Sherman Mays, Veronica Simon, Reggie Mays, and Kevin Mays after they made funeral and burial arrangements for his father without his consent.
In his lawsuit, Eric HaKeem Deontaye Mays says he has the right to make the decisions about his father’s final affairs. The suit seeks the transfer of Eric Mays’ body from Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home to Paradise Funeral Chapel in Saginaw, MI.
Eric HaKeem Deontaye Mays also filed a lawsuit against Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley, Flint City Attorney William Kim and Flint Human Resources Director Eddie Smith over his father’s life insurance policy on March 8, 2024.
A representative from Lento Law Group said they would be picking up Eric Mays’ body and transferring it to Paradise Funeral Chapel, pending a court order from Pickell.