Mortician disciplined by state board

SANDPOINT — A Bonner County mortician has been disciplined by the Idaho State Board of Morticians for illegally soliciting prearranged funeral services.

Douglas Darling’s mortician’s license was suspended for 15 days and he was ordered to pay a $500 fine. Darling was also ordered to pay $1,150 in investigative costs and attorneys fees, according to a stipulation and consent order.

The mortician board’s order was obtained by The Daily Bee through Idaho’s public records law. The order does not identify the funeral establishments involved and only uses the initials of the two women Darling is accused of improperly soliciting.

The alleged professional misconduct dates back two years, although the stipulated agreement wasn’t adopted by the mortician’s board until April.

Darling was accused of soliciting a 66-year-old Sandpoint woman for prearranged services through Lakeview Funeral Home in early 2007 even though her plans were already established with Coffelt Funeral Service, a competitor. He allegedly did the same thing again eight months later to a 98-year-old Laclede woman.

The Daily Bee learned of the investigation and who was involved through friends of the Laclede woman, who said they were outraged by Darling’s conduct.

Darling was aware of the two clients’ plans because he arranged them when he worked at Coffelt Funeral Service, the consent order said.

Idaho law prohibits licensed morticians from making uninvited solicitations.

In both cases cited by the mortician’s board, Darling was accused of making false representations about the future of Coffelt Funeral Service. Darling allegedly told the women that Coffelt was retiring and his business was either being sold or closed down, the order said.

Darling denies making any misrepresentations about Coffelt Funeral Service, but agrees his conduct concerning the solicitation could be construed as improper, said John Finney, the Sandpoint attorney who represented Darling in the disciplinary action.

Finney said Darling’s contact with the women were primarily social calls.

“Bottom line, it was a stipulated resolution to a disputed set of facts,” Finney said.

Darling declined to comment on the matter, as did the Sandpoint woman cited in the first solicitation claim. The Laclede woman in the second claim died several months after the alleged solicitation, although her final arrangements ultimately stayed with Coffelt.

Darling reportedly lost his job as general manager at Lakeview as a result of the alleged misconduct, although the report could not be verified. Darling’s profile remains on Lakeview’s Web site and he was reached for comment through a call placed to Lakeview.

Finney said he was unaware of Darling’s employment status.

Lakeview’s owner, Bart Casey, did not return a message seeking clarification on Darling’s employment. Casey was not implicated in the disciplinary action involving Darling.

Coffelt Funeral Service released the following statement in connection with the matter:

“Coffelt Funeral Service, and staff, is aware of the circumstances of the incident that led to the investigation of Mr. Darling, and subsequent action by the state board of morticians. They have cooperated fully with the investigators in this matter and are satisfied with the investigation and the action taken by the board.”