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Harvard Medical School Agrees to $53 Million Settlement Over Stolen Body Parts Lawsuit
Just the facts
Harvard Medical School reached a $53 million settlement agreement to resolve class-action lawsuits filed by families whose relatives' donated bodies were mishandled at the school's morgue in Boston, Massachusetts. The litigation followed the federal indictment of former morgue manager Cedric Lodge, who was accused of stealing dissected human remains between 2018 and 2023 and selling them to buyers nationwide. Plaintiffs alleged that Harvard University demonstrated negligent oversight and failed to implement security controls within its anatomical gift program. Under the terms of the settlement, financial compensation will be allocated to affected family members who suffered emotional distress. Federal criminal proceedings against Lodge and his co-defendants remain ongoing in U.S. District Court.
Why this is news
Harvard Medical School agreed to pay $53 million to settle class-action lawsuits brought by families alleging the institution failed to prevent the theft and sale of donated human remains. The agreement resolves legal claims stemming from an illicit trafficking scheme operated by a former morgue manager.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.