Harvard University has agreed to pay $53 million to resolve a class-action lawsuit brought by families who alleged the university mishandled the bodies of loved ones donated to its medical school. A Boston state court judge gave preliminary approval to the settlement on Tuesday, and the university expects the distribution of funds to take several months.
The lawsuits stem from a nationwide scheme in which human remains donated for scientific research were stolen and sold on the black market. Prosecutors stated that the theft involved organs, skin, brains, and dissected heads taken from cadavers between 2018 and at least March 2020.
The illegal activity was carried out by Cedric Lodge, 58, a former manager of the Harvard medical school morgue. Lodge pleaded guilty in May and was sentenced in December to eight years in prison for stealing and selling the body parts.