Neptune Society
The Neptune Society, Inc. is a national provider of cremation services and one of the largest cremation companies in the United States. Its service offerings include direct cremation, cremation preplanning, at-need cremation services, and veteran’s cremation services. Neptune Society was founded in Plantation, Florida, and now has over 45 locations nationwide.[1] It is primarily known for its two nationally recognized final resting places: the Neptune Society Columbarium in San Francisco, California, and the Neptune Memorial Reef near Key Biscayne, Florida.
History
The Neptune Society was established in 1973 and was incorporated in 1985. It now operates as a subsidiary of Service Corporation International. The company has assisted families with cremation planning for over 40 years.[2] In 1999, the Neptune Society announced its completion of equity financing of $7 million with Standard Securities Capital Corp. in Toronto and appointed Marco Markin as president and chief executive.[3] In 2000, the company announced it had acquired the Cremation Society of Iowa[4] and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission to be listed on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange.[5] In 2003, it was reported that an $11.5 million deal proposed by the firm of Walt Disney’s great-nephew to buy Neptune Society was called off.[6]
Neptune Memorial Reef
The Neptune Memorial Reef is an underwater memorial 3.25 miles (5.23 km) off the coast of Key Biscayne, Florida, where families can have the cremated ashes of their loved ones interred. Neptune's burial at sea involves mixing cremated remains into concrete for a sturdy and secure final resting place. Spanning 16 acres, the memorial is one of the largest man-made reefs in the world. The US Environmental Protection Agency and a number of other national organizations approved construction on the reef according to predetermined guidelines and regulations. The reef is a popular destination for divers, tourists, and families depositing or visiting their family members' cremains.
Neptune Society Columbarium
The Neptune Society Columbarium of San Francisco is an architectural landmark in San Francisco and is the city's only nondenominational public burial space. The columbarium was built in 1898 by architect Bernard J.S. Cahill and is currently operated and maintained by the Neptune Society of Northern California. The copper-domed, Neo-Classical structure houses more than 8,500 niches for cremation urns. The building was designated as a San Francisco city landmark in 1996.
Controversies
There have been controversies surrounding the Neptune Society brand over the years. In the late 1990s, the company settled lawsuits from the widow of a former Burbank mayor[7] and 308 Southern California residents who claimed their loved ones’ remains were mishandled.[8]
In November 2013, residents of East Oakland and members of Communities for a Better Environment (CBE) gathered around the Neptune Society office on Grand Avenue to protest the planned construction of a new crematory that would accommodate 3,000 deceased individuals. Opposition was primarily driven by environmental concerns.[9] Arguments in favor of the facility pointed to job creation and other possible benefits of the crematory.[10]
On December 2, 2019, the California Attorney General along with the District Attorneys for the City and County of San Franciso, Alameda County and Marin County sued the company and alleged that the Neptune Society with "swindling customer" in connection with Prepaid (Preneed) cremation plans.[11] According to the California Attorney General's Office Neptune Society illegally pocketed money that should have been placed in a segregated trust fund for the benefit of the customer. The California Attorney General's Office made further allegations that [b]ecause of the alleged practice of misallocating funds...many of Neptune's customers failed to receive the full refund to which they were entitled when cancelling their contracts." The California Attorney General Complaint first cause of action alleged that Neptune Society made untrue and misleading statements to its customer and engaged in unfair competition and unlawful business practices.[12]
On April 6, 2020, Neptune Society was sued in a Federal Class Action lawsuit alleging that the firm engaged in a "bait and switch" scheme concerning Florida residents' statutorily protected "preneed" payments for cremation. "The plaintiff claims the defendants have unlawfully induced consumers through bait-and-switch tactics into entering preneed cremation agreements for which the majority of the money paid in advance is neither placed into a state-mandated trust nor deemed refundable."[13] In this Florida action, Plaintiffs allege that the Neptune Society violated the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, and was unjustly enriched,[14]
References
- ^ "The Neptune Society, Inc.: Private Company Information - Businessweek". Investing.businessweek.com. Retrieved 2015-03-02.
- ^ "Neptune Society Completes $7-Million Equity Financing". Los Angeles Times. 2000-04-11. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
- ^ "Neptune Society Names President". Los Angeles Times. 1999-10-29. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
- ^ "Neptune Society Says It Has Acquired Iowa Firm". Los Angeles Times. 2000-10-10. Retrieved 2015-03-02.
- ^ "Neptune Society Seeking to Trade on Nasdaq". Los Angeles Times. 2000-04-11. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
- ^ "Deal to Buy Neptune Society Is Called Off". Los Angeles Times. 2003-10-16. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
- ^ Berger, Leslie (2000-10-10). "Settlement Reached in Neptune Society Suit : Legal: Sources say widow of former Burbank mayor will receive almost $1 million after her husband's remains were mishandled and his cremation delayed". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
- ^ Spano, John (1988-01-23). "Neptune Society Offering $2.6 Million in Settlement". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2015-03-02.
- ^ "East Oakland residents protest Neptune Society crematorium plan". Oaklandlocal.com. 2013-12-04. Archived from the original on 2014-08-02. Retrieved 2015-03-02.
- ^ Johnson, Chip (2014-04-08). "Oakland City Council dead wrong in fighting crematorium". SFGate. Retrieved 2015-03-02.
- ^ "Attorney General Becerra Files Unlawful Business Practices Action against Neptune Society, Company Offering Prepaid Cremation Services". State of California - Department of Justice - Office of the Attorney General. 2019-12-02. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
- ^ "The People of the State of California vs. Service Corporation International and Neptune Society et al" (PDF).
- ^ "Class Action Claims Florida Residents Duped by Funeral Services Cos. into 'Bait and Switch' Scheme for Prepaid Cremation Costs". www.classaction.org. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
- ^ "Nancy Taylor on behalf of herself and all others similarly situated v. Neptune Society Management Company et. al" (PDF).