Cincinnati, OH: (Aug-21-07) A lawsuit was brought against Hamilton County by a group of families who alleged that they suffered emotional distress after photos were taken of posed bodies in the county morgue. The photos were of bodies posed with fruit, doll house furniture and other props. The photographer, Thomas Condon, said he took them as part of an art project to illustrate the cycle of life from birth through death. He was convicted in 2001 of eight counts of gross abuse of a corpse for taking the pictures. His 2 1/2-year sentence was reduced to 18 months on appeal.
In a settlement reached, Hamilton County agreed to pay $8 million to settle the lawsuit. As per the terms of the agreement, Hamilton County will pay the money to 532 families during a two-year period, formally apologize to them, and make sure offensive photos and copies are destroyed. The settlement also includes grief counseling and a memorial. Sources stated that the current settlement, based on unauthorized manipulation and photography of bodies over a four-month period in the morgue, was viewed by both sides as a fair compromise, particularly with the focus on continuing improvement at the Coroner's Office. [FORBES: PHOTOGRAPHED CORPSES]
