Coutinho-Boisse Funeral Home, LLC v. Hamel, Wickens & Troupe Funeral Home, Inc.

24 Mass. L. Rptr. 572
CourtMassachusetts Superior Court
DecidedSeptember 17, 2008
DocketNo. BACV20030653
StatusPublished

This text of 24 Mass. L. Rptr. 572 (Coutinho-Boisse Funeral Home, LLC v. Hamel, Wickens & Troupe Funeral Home, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Massachusetts Superior Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Coutinho-Boisse Funeral Home, LLC v. Hamel, Wickens & Troupe Funeral Home, Inc., 24 Mass. L. Rptr. 572 (Mass. Ct. App. 2008).

Opinion

Kane, Robert J., J.

In this consolidated proceeding involving disputes over the sale of a funeral business, suit was originally brought by Coutinho-Boisse Funeral Home, LLC (“Coutinho-Boisse”), Sean M. Coutinho, Shane B. Coutinho, Jon Coutinho (collectively referred to as the “Coutinhos”) and George H. Boisse (“Boisse”) against Hamel, Wickens & Troupe Funeral Home, Inc. (“HWT”) and Roger G. Hamel (“Hamel”). The complaint alleges defendants: (1) breached express contractual obligations; (2) breached the contract’s implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing; and (3) violated G.L.c. 93A, §11. Subsequently, HWT and Hamel brought suit against Coutinho-Boisse, the Coutinhos, and Boisse for breach of a promissory note and associated personal guarantees.

FINDINGS

Trial occurred over five days with five witnesses testifying and forty-three exhibits admitted. Based upon a review of the credibility of the documentary, photographic and testimonial evidence, this court now makes the following findings of fact and draws from the credible findings reasonable inferences.

Originally, HWT engaged in the funeral business as an unincorporated business operating under the name of Wickens & Troupe. Subsequently, the business became known as HWT which incorporated in 1968. Up until 1998, the business operated solely out of premises located in Quincy, Massachusetts.

BOARD OF REGISTRATION

The Board of Registration in Embalming and Funeral Directing (hereinafter referred to as “the Board”) regulates Massachusetts funeral businesses. As described in 239 CMR §3.01 (2002), the Board’s jurisdiction covers licensed funeral establishments. According to 239 CMR 3.01, a licensed funeral establishment constitutes:

[573]*573a fixed place or establishment owned or maintained by a person, partnership, corporation, association or other organization which has been duly registered by the Board pursuant to M.G.L.c. 112, §84 and which is located, constructed, equipped and operated for the purpose of providing sanitary handling, preparation, disposition and care of dead human bodies.

The regulations provide further detail on the definition of what constitutes the “Business of Embalming and Funeral Directing.” Under 239 CMR 3.01, such a business encompasses, inter alia:

(a) Consulting with members of the general public about, and/or making arrangements concerning the disposition of human remains, including arrangements for cremation for compensation; (b) Removing a human body from the place of death; (c) Transporting human remains; [and] (k) Making cemetery, cremation and/or anatomical gift arrangements at the request of the decedent or the decedent’s family (emphasis added).

As will be further described, the Board’s regulatory system is capacious, covering functional aspects of embalming and funeral directing and encompassing the structure and practices of a funeral business. Within 239 CMR3.00 stands Section 3.13, titled “Code of Conduct and Professional Ethics.” The Board’s code of conduct evidences a strong regulatory interest in having a funeral business operate under a single corporation. Under 239 CMR 3.13, the code of conduct provides:

No person who is registered with the Board, nor any person who holds an ownership interest in or is employed by any funeral establishment licensed by the Board, shall engage in, or hold any ownership interest in, any other business which is related to the disposition of human remains, including but not limited to any cemetery; crematorium; retail or wholesale casket or vault sales or rental enterprise; monument sales enterprise; or other similar business.

Further, 239 CMR 3.13(3) prohibits a person registered with the Board from “referring members of the general public to licensed funeral establishments in which he or she holds an ownership interest or is employed.”1

HWTS EXPANSION

In 1994 and in 1998, HWT expanded in two ways. First, it organized The Cremation Society, Inc. (“the Society”), dedicated to signing up individuals interested in having a loved one cremated. To enlist cremation customers, the Society through franchisees (funeral businesses) offered discounted rates that a customer, for a twenty-five dollar ($25.00) fee, could lock in while retaining the right to later choose another funeral business to handle the cremation.

The Society only brokered business to franchisees which provided the cremation services. Unattached to any physical property of its own, the Society occasionally used HWT’s business premises to conduct its business affairs, including advertising which was transacted in Cape Cod as well as in other areas of the state.

REGULATION OF “PRE-NEED FUNERAL CONTRACTS AND ARRANGEMENTS”

The Board specially regulates “Pre-need Funeral Contracts and Arrangements” (“pre-need funeral contract”). Under 239 Code Mass. Regs. §§4.01-4.10 (1998), the Board set out regulations for executing pre-need funeral contracts. A pre-need funeral contract is defined under 239 CMR 4.01 as “any pre-need funeral services contract or pre-need funeral arrangements contract, entered into in advance of death.” Under 239 CMR 4.03(l)(d), monies deposited as a prepayment for funeral services must be maintained within a funeral trust.

Under 239 CMR 4.02(8), “all pre-need centers or offices which engage in the preparation, negotiation or execution of pre-need funeral contracts or arrangements shall be located within a duly licensed funeral establishment.” Under 239 CMR 4.08(5), such a funeral establishment in advertising pre-need funeral products must disclose “the nature of the relationship between the agent who solicits the purchase of the product” and “the funeral establishment which is to provide the funeral goods and/or services.” Under 239 CMR 4.02, funeral establishments responsible for pre-need funeral contracts must maintain certain customer account information and under 239 CMR 4.06(6) (d), must:

send written notice of any transfer of ownership of the funeral establishment ... to the buyer (and beneficiary, if different) of every pre-need funeral contract to which it is a party, via certified mail, return receipt requested, not later than ten days after the effective date of said transfer or sale.

PURCHASE OF HARWICH FUNERAL BUSINESS

As previously stated, in 1998, HWT purchased the funeral business and premises originally operated by Eaton and Blute. Eaton and Blute had been succeeded by Doane, Beal, and Ames, which in turn had been succeeded by a conglomerate. For four years prior to HWTs purchase, the business had been closed. During its ownership that spanned four years, HWT gradually built up the business.

NEGOTIATION AND SALE OF HARWICH FUNERAL BUSINESS

In 2002, Hamel had been approached by Boisse about selling the Harwich business. Boisse had been a licensed funeral director for several years prior to approaching Hamel about buying the Harwich business. While in Massachusetts, he had worked at [574]*574Doane, Beal, and Ames, but by 2002 he was working full-time as an automobile salesman and only part-time as a funeral director. In 2002, Boisse had worked on occasion for HWT at its Harwich location. This employment led to his inquiry of Hamel about purchasing the business.

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Bluebook (online)
24 Mass. L. Rptr. 572, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/coutinho-boisse-funeral-home-llc-v-hamel-wickens-troupe-funeral-home-masssuperct-2008.