Lawsuit Alleges Company Misled Consumers, Failed to Deliver Memorial and Burial Services
Chicago – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced his office filed a lawsuit against Gast Monuments Inc. (Gast Monuments), its President James F. Gast and Vice President Katherine E. Gast, alleging the burial and memorial services company misled and deceived consumers into paying thousands of dollars for orders that were either not completed within the promised timeframe or not delivered at all.
“Gast Monuments’ long history as a family-operated local business attracted customers who trusted the company’s decades of experience to provide services during what is often a very emotional time for families,” Raoul said. “It is unacceptable that many of these trusting customers were exploited and never received the burial monuments they paid for or refunds for work that was never completed. My Consumer Fraud Bureau will continue to work to hold businesses that intentionally take advantage of Illinois consumers accountable.”
Gast Monuments was located in Chicago’s West Ridge community and was founded in the 1880s by the Gast family. The now-closed company created burial monuments, grave markers, memorials and headstones. Gast Monuments specialized in designing, producing and selling custom memorials and providing inscription services for existing memorials.
During the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, global supply chain delays impacted the production and installation schedules for many orders placed with Gast Monuments. In addition, several suppliers suspended shipments of completed orders due to non-payment by Gast Monuments, leading to a significant order backlog – though the company continued to accept payments for new orders.
While Gast Monuments filed for corporate dissolution in December 2023, Raoul’s lawsuit alleges the defendants made no effort to inform customers that the company had ceased operations until eight months after its dissolution. Since 2022, Raoul’s Consumer Fraud Bureau has received approximately 130 complaints against Gast Monuments from customers who paid approximately $660,000 for services that were never provided. Of those consumers, at least 70 fully paid for memorials for themselves or their loved ones, totaling more than $200,000 in sales.
Raoul’s office filed its lawsuit using its authority under the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. The lawsuit seeks to require restitution to all affected consumers, permanently ban the defendants from offering and selling burial services, and impose a civil penalty for each violation of the law.
Individuals who need to report a complaint involving Gast Monuments should visit the Attorney General’s website or call the Attorney General’s Consumer Fraud hotlines:
1-800-386-5438 (Chicago)
1-800-243-0618 (Springfield)
1-800-243-0607 (Carbondale)
