SAN DIEGO -- It's a case of airport security that some say went way too far -- A Transportation Security Administration screener is accused of opening a sealed box and spilling the cremated remains of a San Diego woman's relative all over her suitcase.
Lawyer Says She Was 'Humiliated' By Airport Patdown 
TSA Rules for Transporting Crematory Remains
Lisa Miller, who found her cousin's remains scattered among her belongings, is understandably upset, and after failing to get an apology, she's suing the TSA for damages.
When Charles Mason died last year, Miller went to Seattle to transport his cremated remains. She put his ashes in a sealed box -- with what she said was proper identification -- inside a backpack.
"It has the name and address of the funeral home," Miller told NBC 7/39. "It has a serial number. It has that it's the cremated remains of Charles Mason."
Miller flew to San Diego, but she said that when she opened the backpack, she found the box forced open and ashes everywhere.
"Then, when I saw it was broken open and taped, I knew they had broken it open and spilled it," said Miller. "And I was devastated, just devastated."
Miller told NBC 7/39 that a TSA screener is to blame.
"The TSA broke open the container with the remains and spilled it," said Miller.
Miller has filed suit, asking for $175,000 in damages, in addition to compensation for emotional distress.
"I believe that the TSA failed to exercise due care," said Shirley Mills, Miller's attorney. "Particularly in light of the fact that they had a handbook that said crematory remains were not to be opened. Certainly, they should have followed their own internal procedures."
The TSA declined to comment on the suit, instead directing NBC 7/39 to its Web site, which clearly says that screeners are not allowed to open such containers. Miller said that the policy was added as a result of her complaint.
Alaska Airlines has also been named in the suit. Lou Cancelmi, a spokesman for the airline, told NBC 7/39 that "we have transported human remains on many occasions. Our employees do their best to be particularly respectful and sensitive in these situations."
In the meantime, with the case -- and what's left of her cousin's remains -- tied up in court, Miller told NBC 7/39 that her family still hasn't been able to grieve.
"I just hope that no one ever has to go through that again, because like I said, we can't even, we can't even do anything with the remains," said Miller
The case has been transferred to a court in Seattle. The TSA is now working with funeral homes across the country to provide containers that are approved for air travel.
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Loved One's Ashes Spilled
