A federal judge dismissed all remaining claims in a lawsuit filed by a Navajo family against the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator.

Mary and Alfred Taylor sued the state for failing to obtain next of kin consent for the autopsy and subsequent cremation of their son, Abel Taylor, who was found dead in Albuquerque in August 2002. They said the office mishandled Abel's body and sent him to a a funeral home for cremation.

Navajo traditions do not allow autopsies or cremation.

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Court dismisses Navajo family lawsuit against OMI (AP 4/11)
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Relevant Links:
Office of the Medical Investigator - http://omi.unm.edu/index.htm

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