US: When cancer victim Michael Bruno died in May 2003, his family hoped that after his funeral he would be able to rest in peace.
But now the death of Bruno, who passed away at 75 from the effects of kidney cancer, is among scores of cases at the centre of a widening investigation by Brooklyn prosecutors and police into a ring which allegedly trafficked in body parts.
On Monday Bruno's son Vito, who is executor of the estate, filed suit against a Brooklyn funeral home, a New Jersey human-tissue "harvesting" company and two men believed to be at the centre of the funeral-industry scandal.
Attorney Sanford Rubenstein, who is representing the Bruno family, said officials had indicated that as many as 80 funeral cases were being reviewed and that as many as 30 bodies could be exhumed. A law-enforcement source said six funeral homes in Brooklyn were being looked at in connection with the inquiry.
Mr Rubenstein said the risk of illegally harvesting diseased organs from cancer or Aids patients now had to be a concern for recipients.
Vito Bruno, a concert producer, said he was told recently by detectives that his father's body appeared to have been illegally foraged. He said detectives showed him an organ-donor card that said his father's body could be harvested for organs.
According to Mr Bruno, the signature on the card was forged and a death certificate also incorrectly listed heart disease.
He said his father died on May 22th, 2003, at a Veterans' Administration hospital. His body was picked up for cremation by the English Brothers funeral home in Brooklyn. "Apparently there was a little detour along the way," he said, referring to the alleged harvesting of his father's body.
Mr Bruno's lawsuit for emotional distress, breach of contract and punitive damages was filed in state supreme court in Brooklyn.
It names the English Brothers funeral home and Biomedical Tissue Services Ltd of Fort Lee, New Jersey, as defendants.
Also sued are Dr Michael Mastromarino, a principal of Biomedical Tissue Services, and embalmer Joseph Nicelli.
Attorney Mario Gallucci said in a statement that Dr Mastromarino "was not responsible for obtaining the consent from the decedent's families. His job was to remove viable tissue . . . as permitted by law." English Brothers would not comment, and Mr Nicelli was not available. - (LA Times-Washington Post Service)