Harvard Morgue Anatomical Donor Class Action Settlement
Harvard Morgue Anatomical Donor Class Action Settlement
The President and Fellows of Harvard College agreed to a proposed $53 million settlement of lawsuits brought on behalf of family members and designees of people who donated their bodies to Harvard's Anatomical Gift Program. Eligible relatives and designees of donors whose remains left the Harvard Morgue between January 1, 2003 and March 31, 2023 can file a claim for a share of the settlement. The claim deadline is December 9, 2026.
Settlement fund
$53M
$52.5M primary class, $500K pre-2018 class
Top payout
Pro rata per donor
Shared among eligible relatives by relationship
Claim deadline
Dec 9, 2026
72 days remaining
You may be owed money
Filing is free and takes a few minutes. Deadline: Dec 9, 2026.
Do you qualify?
You are a Class Member if ALL of the following apply:
- You are the spouse, registered domestic partner, child, parent, sibling, or grandchild of a person who donated their body to Harvard's Anatomical Gift Program.
- Or you were named as a designee in the donor's Anatomical Gift Instrument.
- The donor's remains departed the Harvard Morgue between January 1, 2018 and March 31, 2023 (Primary Settlement Class) or between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2017 (Pre-2018 Settlement Class).
- Excluded: The Defendants, the released parties, Cedric Lodge, Denise Lodge, and judges and their immediate families. See the Long Form Notice at HarvardMorgueSettlement.com for the full class definitions.
Not sure if you qualify? Call the Settlement Administrator toll-free, 24 hours a day, at (888) 511-3418, email info@HarvardMorgueSettlement.com, write to Harvard Morgue Settlement, c/o Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 25191, Santa Ana, CA 92799-9958, or visit HarvardMorgueSettlement.com.
What happened
The lawsuits were brought on behalf of family members and designees of people who donated their bodies to Harvard's Anatomical Gift Program. According to the settlement website, the lawsuits allege that Harvard failed to safeguard donated remains while they were at the Harvard Morgue, which allowed remains to be improperly removed and sold, and that this caused emotional distress to donors' families and designated beneficiaries. We recognize this is a painful subject for donor families, and this page is limited to the facts published by the Court-approved Settlement Administrator.
The Settling Defendants deny all of the allegations and all legal claims in the case, and the settlement is not an admission of wrongdoing. The Court has not decided whether the Plaintiffs' claims are correct. In addition to the $53 million payment, the settlement includes non-monetary terms: a public statement condemning the criminal conduct as morally reprehensible, a statement on Harvard's policy improvements, and a new AGP Donors Scholarship for medical students.
How to file a claim
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1. Confirm you are eligible
You may qualify if you are the spouse, registered domestic partner, child, parent, sibling, or grandchild of a donor, or a designee named in the donor's Anatomical Gift Instrument, and the donor's remains departed the Harvard Morgue between January 1, 2003 and March 31, 2023. If you are unsure, call the Settlement Administrator at (888) 511-3418.
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2. Understand how payments are shared
There are two funds: $52.5 million for the Primary Settlement Class (remains that departed January 1, 2018 through March 31, 2023) and $500,000 for the Pre-2018 Settlement Class (January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2017). Each net fund is first divided equally among the donors for whom valid claims are filed, and each donor's share is then allocated among the valid claimants based on their relationship to that donor, as set out in the Plan of Allocation.
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3. File online or by mail
Submit a signed Claim Form online at the official claim portal by December 9, 2026, or download the paper Claim Form and mail it postmarked by that date to Harvard Morgue Settlement, c/o Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 25191, Santa Ana, CA 92799-9958. The online portal requires the LoginID and PIN from your settlement notice. If you cannot find them, email info@HarvardMorgueSettlement.com or use the paper form. Submitting a claim does not guarantee payment.
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4. Receive your payment
According to the settlement website, payments are expected within 60 days after the settlement becomes effective, which happens only after the Court grants final approval at the December 9, 2026 Final Approval Hearing and any appeals are resolved.
Key dates
- Nov 16, 2026 Opt-out & objection deadline Upcoming
- Dec 9, 2026 Claim filing deadline Upcoming
- Dec 9, 2026 Final Fairness Hearing (2:00 p.m. ET) Upcoming
- TBD after final approval Payments issued to claimants Pending
The Final Approval Hearing is scheduled for December 9, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. ET in Courtroom 1017 of the Suffolk Superior Court, Three Pemberton Square, Boston, MA. This is the same day as the claim deadline. The Court will also consider Class Counsel's request for attorneys' fees of up to one-third of the settlement plus expenses. Objections must be postmarked or received by November 16, 2026. The Court may move the hearing, so check HarvardMorgueSettlement.com for updates before traveling.
Where the money is going
Harvard will pay a total of $53 million, split into a $52.5 million fund for the Primary Settlement Class and a $500,000 fund for the Pre-2018 Settlement Class. After Court-approved deductions, each net fund is divided equally by the number of donors with valid claims, and each donor's share is then allocated among that donor's eligible claimants by relationship. The amount any family receives depends on how many claims are filed.
All amounts listed above are pending and subject to final court approval at the Final Approval Hearing. The Court may award less than the amounts requested. Individual payments depend on the number of donors with valid claims and on each claimant's relationship to the donor under the Plan of Allocation.
Common questions
How much money will I receive?
There is no fixed payment per person. Each net settlement fund is divided equally by the number of donors for whom valid claims are filed, and each donor's share is then allocated among the valid claimants based on their relationship to that donor. The exact shares are set out in the Plan of Allocation, and amounts are not guaranteed.
Do I need to submit proof of purchase?
You must submit a signed Claim Form by December 9, 2026. The claim process asks you to establish your relationship to the donor; see the Claim Form instructions for the documents accepted. The online portal requires the LoginID and PIN from your settlement notice.
What if I didn’t receive a notice?
If you believe you are an eligible relative or designee but did not receive a notice or cannot find your LoginID and PIN, email info@HarvardMorgueSettlement.com or call (888) 511-3418. You can also download the paper Claim Form from the settlement website and mail it, postmarked by December 9, 2026.
Does staying in the class affect my right to sue later?
If the settlement is approved, class members release their right to sue the Defendants over the issues involved in this case, whether or not they file a claim. Check the Long Form Notice at HarvardMorgueSettlement.com for the full release terms and your options.
When will payments be sent out?
According to the settlement website, payments are expected within 60 days after the settlement becomes effective, following final approval at the December 9, 2026 hearing. If there is an appeal, payments can be delayed significantly.
Dapeer Law, P.A.
Consumer class action attorneys based in South Florida. We track settlements so you don’t have to.
Similar open settlements
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Dapeer Law, P.A. is not the administrator of this settlement and is not affiliated with President and Fellows of Harvard College and Mark F. Cicchetti, Simpluris, Inc. (the Settlement Administrator), or Class Counsel Jeffrey N. Catalano of Keches Law Group, P.C., Jonathan D. Sweet of Keches Law Group, P.C., and Shannon M. Pennock of Morgan & Morgan. The case is In re Harvard Morgue Cases, Case No. 2384CV01389-BLS2, pending in the Superior Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Suffolk County before the presiding judge. Class representatives are Nicole MacTaggart, Glenn Wilder, Jr., and Scott Cavanagh. Harvard denies wrongdoing. This website is attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.