Cemetery operators who purchase a cemetery from a city are not liable for wrongful interments or errors made within the scope of business prior to the purchase of the cemetery. The previous wrongdoer remains liable for actions related to the cemetery during the time of ownership. Operators of endowed care cemeteries must register and comply with the endowed care regulations. No impact on state funds. Supporters say that the City of St. Louis acquired a cemetery through delinquent taxes and currently wants to sell it.
Legislation is needed to release liability from attaching to the new owner.
Liability would remain with the cemetery. This cemetery is in deplorable condition with knocked over headstones, overgrown grass, missing records, and records written in Polish and Czechoslovakian languages. The City of St. Louis wants to transfer its immunity from liability to the new owner in order to sell the cemetery. There was no opposition voiced to the committee. Cemetery operators who purchase a cemetery from the city are not liable for wrongful interments or errors made within the scope of business prior to the purchase of the cemetery.