Harvard University agrees to pay $53 million settlement over stolen body parts scandal

Harvard University has agreed to a $53 million settlement to resolve lawsuits filed by families whose loved ones' remains were mishandled at the Harvard Medical School morgue. The proposed class-action settlement was filed in a Boston state court on August 17, 2026, and received preliminary approval from a judge shortly thereafter. This agreement concludes a significant portion of the litigation initiated after the 2023 arrest of Cedric Lodge, the former morgue manager of the school’s anatomical gift program.

Between 2018 and 2021, Lodge used his position to steal body parts—including heads, brains, skin, and hands—from donated cadavers, which he subsequently sold on the black market. Lodge, who worked at the university for nearly 30 years, was sentenced to eight years in federal prison in December 2025. His wife and six other individuals were also implicated in the scheme, with criminal charges brought against them. The illegal trade involved transporting remains from the Boston morgue to various locations, including New Hampshire and Pennsylvania.

While the university was initially shielded from some liability, the settlement addresses the claims of negligence regarding the oversight of the morgue. The legal process for finalizing the distribution of the settlement funds is expected to proceed in the coming months.