Family sues Marengo funeral director for $1.1M

An Illinois family is seeking $1.1 million in damages in a lawsuit against the director of a 20-year-old's funeral for what they call tragic errors, mistakes and intentional acts.

The (Crystal Lake) Northwest Herald reports the family of Jonathan Bearer makes the allegations in McHenry County court against funeral director Thomas Fashingbauer from the Marengo-based McHenry County Burial and Cremation Society.

Bearer's survivors say they watched in horror as Fashingbauer and employees tried to push a too-large casket into a too-small burial vault.

Fashingbauer apologized for the incident and said there was an error in ordering the vault. He says it was quickly replaced with a new one and the family wasn't charged for the $8,000 funeral. He says he is "sorely hurt" that the family is suing.