Crematory lawsuits pre-trial to be heard by Rome judge

ROME - U.S. District Judge Harold Murphy of Rome will preside over the pretrial portion of lawsuits against Tri-State Crematory. Crematory operator Ray Brent Marsh and 17 funeral home companies face numerous suits from relatives of those whose uncremated remains were found on crematory grounds. <br> <br> Once the pretrial portion of the cases is complete, the cases will return to their home districts. <br> <br> During a hearing Thursday in Rome, Murphy&#39;s courtroom was crowded with more than 50 attorneys representing plaintiffs and defendants. Marsh -- who has been a rare participant in previous court hearings -- was accompanied by two armed deputies from the Walker County Sheriff&#39;s Office. <br> <br> The next meeting for attorneys in Rome will be December 16 and 17 to discuss the possibility of combining the suits into a class action.