District 1 Medical Examiner Dr. Deanna Oleske is bringing charges against area funeral directors who submitted formal criticism about her performance of her duties by sending letters to Escambia County, Florida Board of County Commissioners.
The letters submitted by a number of area funeral homes included serious claims about the state of the bodies processed through the coroner’s office, stating that the deceased arrived into the care of the funeral homes “mutilated,” having been “butchered” in autopsy, and in various states of clear negligence or disrespect. Some claims carried over to the ME’s in-person handling of the deceased, alleging inappropriate comments or behavior with respect to the dead, as well as significant delays between their arrival in at the coroner’s facility and the delivery to funeral homes.
Prior to the submission of their concerns in writing, area funeral homes met to compare experiences and discuss issues and concerns, which were echoed across facilities. Embalming and services, directors said, were impacted – sometimes significantly – as a result, particularly in “dire” cases. According to the letters, bodies arrived covered in fluids from autopsy, sometimes with garbage (including gloves, biohazardous waste and other materials) remaining in both the bags used for transport and body cavities, and in plastic transport bags which themselves have been damaged and leak.
“[W]e’ve never had this issue with past Medical Examiners,” one director said.
The ME’s office has stated that the claims are untrue, either altogether false or exaggerated, and “inconsistent” with their practices. No complaints of any nature had been made directly to the coroner’s office, they maintain, stating that the letters that have been submitted are likely financially motivated by the writers. They counter that the intent behind the letters is to influence upcoming arrangements to move the office of the medical examiner, which handles cases across multiple counties. Moving the office from its location in Pensacola could impact the complaining homes’ traffic and caseload in a negative way, impacting their business and finances, Oleske’s suit alleges.
According to The Pensacola News Journal, reporting on the lawsuit earlier this month of this month, “Oleske claims their ‘false, negative, misleading, and defamatory statements’ have hurt her ‘business practices, reputation, and integrity,’ and she is seeking damages.” Oleske states that her reputation has suffered as a result of the publicly-available “defamatory” letters, affecting in negative ways her ability to cover other area districts and to consult in private practice with detrimental effects on her professionally and financially.
As of July 31st, the lawsuit carries allegations of “libel and/or defamation, tortious interference and civil conspiracy.” Oleske is seeking damages in excess of $50,000.00.
Stay tuned – we’ll keep an eye on the matter and update with the latest as things continue to shake out.
