HARRISBURG – Attorney General Dave Sunday announced a lawsuit against a Johnstown woman who collected nearly $32,000 for services she did not complete — while serving as director of her deceased father’s funeral home.
According to the lawsuit, Brittany Thomas collected pre-paid costs from at least 14 consumers while serving as director of Moskal-Reid Funeral Home and Cremation Services. Her father had owned and operated the business.
Those services were never fulfilled and refunds were not issued, according to the lawsuit. The funeral home and its assets were ultimately sold in September 2023.
“Funeral directors are expected to offer comfort and dignified services, not cause further anguish for Pennsylvanians mourning their loved ones,” Attorney General Sunday said. “This funeral director did not follow the law that requires directors to keep aside payments — in these cases, thousands of dollars that were not reimbursed to consumers.”
During her management of the funeral home, Thomas continued to contract for funeral services, such as cremation, providing death notices, and death certificates. Thomas allegedly collected $31,749 for these services.
One consumer contracted with Thomas the same day her mother passed away. The consumer paid Thomas for the funeral services and subsequently, the mother’s insurance also paid Thomas for the services. This resulted in an separate overpayment of $12,184 to Thomas, which Thomas has still not refunded.
The Board of Funeral Directors initiated an administrative law proceeding that resulted in an Order which revoked the estate funeral establishment license for the Moskal-Reid Funeral Home, a cease and desist was issued against both the Moskal-Reid Funeral Home and Brittany Thomas, which will prevent the business and Thomas from providing any funeral services.
The Office of Attorney General’s lawsuit asks that the Court provide relief to the impacted consumers by requiring the Defendant to pay full restitution to those who pre-paid for services, requiring the Defendant to pay civil penalties and costs, permanently preventing Thomas from working as a funeral director in Pennsylvania.
This complaint was filed by Chief Deputy Attorney General Jesse Harvey in the Cambria County Court of Common Pleas.
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