Judge rules for insurance company in funeral home lawsuit

CHARLESTON (AP) — A federal judge has ruled for an insurance company in its case against the operators of a Putnam County funeral home accused of filing false death claims on behalf of pre-need contract customers who weren't actually dead.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports (http://bit.ly/29mQaDi) Homesteaders Life Insurance Company was granted default judgment Thursday in its lawsuit against Poca-based Gatens-Harding Funeral Home owners Chad and Billie Harding.

The lawsuit said that the Hardings cashed in on over $1 million worth of pre-need funeral contracts for 111 people who were still alive during an eight-year period.

The Hardings denied the allegations in a filing last year by their attorney Jeff Woods.

Read more: http://www.register-herald.com/news/state_region/judge-rules-for-insurance-company-in-funeral-home-lawsuit/article_5b35251a-7001-5d3a-8204-a7eaef285d77.html