Florida HR Firm Discovers 300 Graves Under Office, Files Lawsuit
A human resources company has been left stunned by the chilling revelation that more than three hundred historical graves lie beneath its office property in Clearwater, Florida. FrankCrum is now pursuing legal action against Clearwater's Community Redevelopment Agency following the archaeological discovery that hundreds of bodies are likely interred under its corporate complex.
Historical Cemetery Uncovered Beneath Modern Business
In 2022, an engineering firm reported the presence of at least 328 graves under the property, which was once the site of the St. Matthews Baptist Church Cemetery. This cemetery served a 20th-century Black neighborhood in Clearwater, as detailed by the Tampa Bay Times. FrankCrum purchased the property in 2004 from a software company named Information Management Resources, unaware of the burial ground beneath.
The lawsuit, filed by FrankCrum in 2023, cites a written agreement between the redevelopment agency and the previous software company owner. This agreement stated the property did "not presently include human remains from any cemetery," according to the Tampa Bay Times. FrankCrum alleges it was completely uninformed about the graves at the time of acquisition.
Legal Battle Over Responsibility and Costs
Clearwater spokesperson Joelle Castelli addressed the lawsuit in a statement to local media, noting the challenges posed by the passage of time. "Today's taxpayers are litigating events that allegedly occurred more than a quarter of a century ago," Castelli said. "Most lawsuits are required to be filed within a couple years of the events. The passage of time is so vast that it's become hard to track down witnesses, documents, and refresh recollections."
FrankCrum is seeking financial compensation from the redevelopment agency to cover the removal of the graves, a process that could incur costs running into millions of dollars. Descendants of those buried at the site have expressed a desire for the bodies to be relocated to another former Black cemetery in Clearwater's North Greenwood neighborhood.
Case Progresses Through Legal System
The legal proceedings are advancing after an appeals court recently upheld a ruling that denied a motion from the redevelopment agency for a summary judgment. A trial date for the case has not yet been scheduled, leaving the outcome uncertain as both parties prepare for further litigation.
The Independent has contacted both the city of Clearwater and FrankCrum for additional comments on the ongoing dispute. This case highlights complex issues of property rights, historical preservation, and community heritage in urban redevelopment contexts.
