Funeral director fined for burial transit permit snafu

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

The Iowa Board of Mortuary Science has disciplined an area funeral director for allowing an unlicensed person to remove human remains and allowing unlicensed employees to make removals and transfers without first securing a burial transit permit.

Jim Fullerton, of Mason City, has been fined and placed on administrative probation following an agreement with the board signed on June 2, according to public documents. The two offenses are administrative and non-criminal. Fullerton waived his right to a hearing and entered into the agreement voluntarily.

Fullerton owns Fullerton Funeral Home in Charles City, which also has locations in Mason City, Rockwell and Rockford.

The documents, released by the board, say Fullerton began having health complications in late 2015, and Fullerton admitted that during this time he had unlicensed employees assume custody and make some removals of bodies at times. These employees did not secure a required burial-transit permit.

The agreement Fullerton accepted with the board places his funeral director license on administrative probation for six months. As part of his probation, Fullerton is required to document 10 removals by a licensed professional and provide case reports to the board. He was also ordered to pay a $500 civil penalty.

If Fullerton fails to comply with the agreement, documents say the board has the authority to invoke additional discipline.

The Iowa Board of Mortuary Science can discipline funeral directors or revoke their licenses. The agreement will remain part of Fullerton’s permanent licensure record.