Nassau florist’s death leaves brides without refunds or answers
Brides-to-be told News 12 they booked Jack and Rose Floral Decorators in Syosset to do their flowers for their weddings. The owner, Jack Rutigliano recently passed away.
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Multiple brides-to-be have reached out to News 12 expressing frustration with a Nassau florist after the owner died.
They told News 12 they booked Jack and Rose Floral Decorators in Syosset to handle flowers for their weddings. But the owner, Jack Rutigliano, recently passed away.
One bride-to-be shared a letter she received by email from the attorney representing Rutigliano’s surviving family members. The letter says Rutigliano “solely owned and operated” the business.
“As a result of his passing, the business is presently not operating, and no individual currently has legal authority to manage or operate the company or access its accounts. At this time, no fiduciary has been appointed for Jack’s estate through the Nassau County Surrogate’s Court,” the letter says. “Neither the family nor our firm is assuming any responsibility for the obligations, contracts, or operations of the business.”
The situation has left brides worried they will not get their money back.
“We paid $4,000,” said Kristina Sylvander, of Lindenhurst, who is getting married in August. “We just bought a home. We just had a baby and now we’re going to have to pay for two florists.”
“That’s just money wasted from my budget,” said Nicole Acker, of Hicksville, who is getting married in July. “The death is unfortunate. It seems like I’m going to have to wait until lawyers can access their records and that will take quite some time.”
The owner of Flowers by Burton in Melville said they have received about 25 calls in the last few days from brides seeking help.
“We had a couple of calls for April, a number of calls for May and then a whole bunch for the summertime,” owner Mike Burton said.
Attorney Anand Kapasi, of Kapasi Law, sent News 12 a statement from surviving family members:
"Jack was the sole owner and operator of Jack & Rose. As his surviving family members, we do not have any legal authority to operate the business, access its accounts, fulfill or transfer contracts, or address customer deposits," says Kapasi.
