Court Overturned Mission Park Verdict Over Urn Damage
A San Antonio appeals court set aside a mental anguish award while ordering a new trial for the funeral home.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Accidents
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The 4th Court of Appeals rendered a take-nothing judgment against Deidre Kollars and Peter Moreno regarding their 2021 claim. The court also set aside a $500,000 award previously granted to their sibling, Yvonne Rigal.
Why it matters
The ruling suggests the initial evidence presented did not meet the legal threshold for mental anguish damages. Additionally, the court ordered a new trial to determine if the city of San Antonio shares responsibility for the incident.
A jury previously awarded $1.025 million to three siblings for mental anguish in January 2025. The appellate court has now set aside the award for Yvonne Rigal and issued a take-nothing judgment against Deidre Kollars and Peter Moreno.
The players
Mission Park Funeral Chapels & Cemeteries
This is a funeral home and cemetery operator based in San Antonio that is currently involved in multiple legal disputes.
Deidre Kollars
She is one of the siblings who previously secured a jury award against the funeral home for mental anguish.
Peter Moreno
He is a sibling who was part of the original mental anguish lawsuit against the funeral home.
Yvonne Rigal
She is a sibling who was awarded $500,000 by a jury for mental anguish before the appeals court set the award aside.
City of San Antonio
This is the local municipal government that operated the San Jose Burial Park in 2009 and is now being considered as a responsible third party.
The details
The dispute centers on allegations that an excavator destroyed an urn at San Jose Burial Park in 2021. The appellate court will now allow a jury to consider the city of San Antonio as a responsible third party regarding burial records dating back to 2009.
Timeline
In 2009, the city of San Antonio operated San Jose Burial Park.
In 2021, an excavator destroyed an urn at the burial park.
In January 2025, a jury awarded $1.025 million to the siblings.
On September 30, 2026, the appeals court issued its ruling.
Legal Context
The current litigation involving Mission Park reflects a broader history of high-profile legal challenges in the San Antonio funeral industry, reminiscent of the 8 million dollar jury award in the Julie Mott case. Recent rulings indicate that appellate courts are strictly evaluating evidence standards for mental anguish claims in these disputes.
Residents should be aware that the city of San Antonio may now be included in the trial as a potentially responsible party for burial records from 2009. This shift in the legal process could change how similar negligence claims against municipal entities are handled in the future.
The takeaway
The appellate court's decision highlights the difficulty of proving mental anguish claims without sufficient evidence in civil disputes. It also serves as a reminder that complex ownership histories of burial sites can significantly complicate ongoing litigation.
Further reading
For additional updates on local legal developments, visit the San Antonio Accidents section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by San Antonio Express-News.
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