ABILENE, Texas -- A local funeral home is suing Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. for $311,000 for listing the funeral home in the Yellow Pages under 'Frozen Foods-Wholesale.'

Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, which filed suit Wednesday in state district court, is seeking $50,000 in damages for mental anguish, $36,000 for loss of revenue, $25,000 for aggravation of a medical condition and $200,000 in exemplary damages.


One of the firm's owners, John Hamil, said the funeral home had received numerous crank and harassing telephone calls since the telephone book was published in March.

'Some guy even called and asked what meat was on special for the day at the funeral home,' Hamil said.

He said the funeral home had been 'held up to public ridicule' since the misplaced listing appeared.

The suit claims Southwest Bell did not proofread the Yellow Pages directory prior to publication. Hamil said he paid for the funeral home ad to be listed under 'Funeral Directors.'