FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  September 14, 1989



           NEVADA FUNERAL HOME TO PAY CIVIL PENALTY, 
             CONSUMER REDRESS, TO SETTLE CHARGES IT
                    VIOLATED FTC FUNERAL RULE



     The Federal Trade Commission today charged Eddy's Funeral
Home of Winnemuca, Nevada, with violating the FTC's Funeral Rule
and the Federal Trade Commission Act by failing to provide
funeral arrangers with written price lists of funeral goods or
services and by charging funeral arrangers for goods and services
that were never provided.  Under a proposed consent decree filed
in federal court, Eddy's will pay a civil penalty of $10,000 and
will provide up to $4,200 in consumer redress.

     This consent decree is for settlement purposes only and does
not constitute admission of a law violation.  Consent decrees
have the force of law.

     The FTC complaint names GMJB, a real estate partnership that
formerly owned Eddy's Funeral Home, James McMurtrey, the managing
partner of GMJB, and Alan Olsen, the former manager of Eddy's
Funeral Home.  The funeral home is now owned by Pete and Judy
Albertson, who operate the business as the Albertson Funeral
Home, and who are not named in the complaint.

     The complaint alleges that defendants violated the Federal
Trade Commission Act by charging funeral arrangers for goods and
services that were not actually provided.  The consent decree
will require the defendants to provide notice of refunds for such
goods and services to all affected consumers.

     According to the complaint, the defendants also violated the
FTC's Funeral Rule by:

     --   failing to provide a written general price list to each
          person who inquired in person about funeral
          arrangements or prices of funeral goods or services;

     --   failing to provide a written price list of caskets or
          alternative burial containers;

                             (More)


     --   failing to provide a written price list of outer burial
          containers;

     --   failing to give a written itemized statement of funeral
          goods and services selected to those persons arranging
          funerals;

     --   conditioning the sale of funeral goods or services upon
          the purchase of other funeral goods or services;

     --   requiring persons who arranged a direct cremation to
          purchase a casket other than an unfinished wooden box;

     --   failing to make available to persons who arranged a
          direct cremation an unfinished wooden box or an
          alternative container;

     --   representing that a casket (other than an unfinished
          wooden box) is required for direct cremation; and

     --   failing to retain for one year accurate copies of each
          statement of funeral goods and services selected.


     The complaint was filed in U.S. District Court for the
District of Nevada by the Department of Justice on behalf of the
FTC.  The consent decree is subject to court approval.

     Copies of the complaint and consent decree will be
available soon from the FTC's Public Reference Branch, Rm. 130,
6th St. and Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580;
202-326-2222; TTY 202-326-2502.


                              # # #


MEDIA CONTACT:      Howard Shapiro, Office of Public Affairs,
                    202-326-2176

STAFF CONTACT:      Nora Dowd, Bureau of Consumer      
                    Protection, 202-326-3110


(Civil Action No. 89-593)


(Edyfunrl)