THE
* THE NATIONAL CONCRETE BURIAL VAULT ASSOCIATION INC. COPYRIGHT 1960
Judge Rules That Town Monopolized Sale of Vaults Cambridge—A key ruling has been issued in the town of Lexington's five year legal battle over its rule banning the town's competitors from supplying burial vaults and grave boxes in Lexington. Siding with consumers and small businesses in the burial vault and grave box business, Middlesex Superior Court Judge Regina Quinlan overruled the town's claims that it was immune from antitrust laws because it acted under the authority of applicable state statues. In an unusually blunt ruling, the judge found that the town lacked "any authority" to mandate that its cemetery customers had to buy burial vaults or grave boxes only from the town. Judge Quinlan rebuked town officials for having "gone beyond the powers contemplated by the legislature." Rejecting all antitrust arguments by the town, the judge ruled that the town could sell grave boxes, but chastised town officials that "monopolizing that business is an entirely different issue." Stephen Lofgren of the Massachusetts Burial Vault Association, whose small business owners supply burial vaults and grave boxes, hailed the court's ruling. "We've fought the town through years of very expensive litigation, more than our members could really afford. It's gratifying to have the court ultimately say that the town doesn't have any right to set itself up as a monopolist. I'm happy for our member companies but also happy for the families who will now have a choice of products." While the judge's ruling does make an end to the town's exclusivity rule more likely, the town still has the right to ask for a jury Continued on pate 3
ULLETIN
Vol. 13
I=1
No, 2
Li
April 1998
Museum Collection is Tnbute To Funeral Industry's History If you ever get to Houston, Texas, plan includes an 1832 horse-drawn hearse, 1888 enough time during your stay to visit the widow's carriage, funeral sleighs, ornately National Museum of Funeral History. Its handcrafted motorized hearses, a one of a collection of artifacts, valued at well over kind funeral bus built by Packard in 1916, $3 million, is a trib the original 12 ute to an industry fantasy coffins which dates back from Guiana, to the funeral diWest Africa that rectors and emhave been feabalmers of Ancient tured throughEgypt. The muout the world, seum is a treasure and much more. chest of social and In addition to exechnic funeral trahibits, intimate ditions, mores and theaters feature facts. Members of professionally the Funeral and produced vidMemorialization eos that offer an 1860s horse drawn hearsefound in Germany Industry Councilunparralleled including Jim history of the Wiens toured the education facility during American funeral service industry and the their recent meeting. value of the funeral rules and ceremonies The 20,000 square foot facility houses still practiced today. the nation's largest collection of funeral serThe National Museum of Funeral Hisvice memorabilia and exhibits that range from tory is a rich learning collection of great iman authentic replica of King Tutankhamen's portance to our past and future that honors gilded sarcophagus to early 19th century a profession that has perpetuatued the forcoffins, civil war practices to modern day mal funeral ceremony and rituals of exprescelebrity memorials and original 19th and sion as prescribed by laws and customs. 20th century preparation practices. The reThe non-profit museum is supported by creation of a 1920's era funeral home embalm- memberships and financial contributions ing facility and Victorian display of a home from more than 38,000 funeral service profuneral arrangement are also on display. An fessionals in North America. It was founded outstanding collection of vintage vehicles in 1992 by Robert L. Waltrip.
Mark Your Calendar! NCBVA 1998 Annual Convention June 25-27 Doubletree Hotel & Conference Center St. Louis, Missouri Program-at-a-Glance....Page 6