Kennedy v. Ricker

This case concerns the standard of care required of funeral directors sued for negligence, the requirements of jury instructions, and the sufficiency of certain evidence to withstand *829defendant’s motions for nonsuit, directed verdict, and judgment notwithstanding the verdict.

On March 5, 1976, the defendant, Paul Ricker, doing business as Ricker Funeral Home, Inc., directed a funeral service at Haverhill Congregational Church in North Haverhill. Before the funeral, James House, the defendant’s employee, and Nelson Ricker, the defendant’s father, arrived at the church with the casket. The casket…