Imprisoned Bureau County killer loses appeal over funeral lawsuit

This week, an imprisoned Bureau County murderer lost his appeal in a lawsuit against a Putnam County funeral home and his former wife.

Stephen A. Taliani, 55, shot to death his former girlfriend Francee Wolf and wounded her mother in 1994 in Spring Valley. He went to prison that year and is set to parole in 2044.

Taliani had been married to a woman from 1986 to 1991, during which time they had a son. Taliani never saw his son again after going to prison, but said he sent letters about every week until the son died in 2008, only one of which was answered. The son never visited Taliani in prison.

After his son died, Taliani obtained permission from prison officials to be taken to Dysart-Cofoid Funeral Home in Granville for a private visitation with the remains. The arrangements were made. However, Taliani's former wife told the funeral home to tell prison officials Taliani was not welcome, which was done. Consequently, Taliani never made the visit.

In 2010 in Putnam County Circuit Court, Taliani sued his ex-wife and Dysart-Cofoid on several grounds, but mainly that they inflicted emotional distress on him. The lawsuit was tossed in January 2016, with the judge finding the ex-wife and funeral home's actions were not "extreme or outrageous."

Taliani then appealed to Third District Appellate Court in Ottawa, where he lost 2-1.

Presiding Appellate Justice Robert Carter, with concurrence from Justice Mary K. O'Brien, agreed that although the action to bar Taliani from the funeral home was "arguably insensitive and inconsiderate," it did not go beyond "all possible bounds of decency."

Carter also said Taliani's distress was not "so severe that no reasonable person could be expected to endure it," adding Taliani never sought treatment for his anguish.

Justice William Holdrige disagreed with Carter and O'Brien.

"It seems rather clear to me that denying a parent access to visit with their recently deceased child’s remains, especially after previously granting access with agreed upon parameters, constitutes extreme and outrageous conduct.

"Despite the plaintiff’s imprisonment and lack of any 'real' relationship with (his son) the plaintiff remained (the) legal father," Holdridge said.

Holdridge was also not persuaded that because Taliani didn't seek treatment, he didn't suffer.

"Emotional distress does not come with an instruction manual to guide individuals on how they should process and seek attention for their condition," Holdridge said.

Taliani has been represented by lawyer Robert L. Caplan, of Clarendon Hills.

Dysart-Cofoid has been represented by Chicago lawyer Daniel P. Costello, and Taliani's ex-wife by Standard lawyer John Grivetti Jr.