August 19, 2026
Sauder Schelkopf and Bochetto & Lentz represented families in litigation arising from the theft and sale of human remains donated to Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School has agreed to a $53 million class action settlement to resolve litigation brought on behalf of families whose loved ones donated their bodies to Harvard’s Anatomical Gift Program and whose remains were implicated in a scheme involving the theft and sale of human body parts.
The proposed settlement, which is subject to court approval, would establish two class action settlement funds totaling $53 million. A third-party settlement administrator will be appointed to notify potential class members, provide information regarding eligibility and the claims process, and distribute settlement funds.
Law360: Harvard To Pay $53M Over Medical School Morgue Thefts
“We are pleased that the parties were able to work together to reach a meaningful resolution for these families,” said Joseph Sauder of Sauder Schelkopf and Bryan Lentz of Bochetto & Lentz. “We were honored to represent them, and we hope this settlement provides a measure of closure and helps the families move forward.”
Background of the Litigation
The litigation arose following the arrest of Cedric Lodge, the former manager of the Harvard Medical School morgue. Federal prosecutors alleged that, between 2018 and August 2022, Lodge removed human remains from donated cadavers after they had been used for teaching and research and sold them to buyers in several states. Lodge later pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of stolen human remains and was sentenced to eight years in federal prison.
Families of donors subsequently brought civil claims against Harvard relating to the handling and protection of remains entrusted to Harvard Medical School’s Anatomical Gift Program. The litigation was initially dismissed in 2024. In October 2025, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court reversed that decision in part, allowing the lawsuits to proceed.
The proposed settlement would resolve the civil litigation against Harvard and is separate from the criminal proceedings involving Lodge and others.
Settlement Includes Additional Commitments
In addition to the $53 million in settlement funds, the proposed agreement includes several non-monetary measures intended to recognize the donor families and support Harvard Medical School’s Anatomical Gift Program.
As part of the settlement, Harvard Medical School has pledged to provide a statement to claimant families through a live webinar confirming that Lodge’s criminal acts were “morally reprehensible” and inconsistent with the standards Harvard University and Harvard Medical School expect for the treatment of anatomical donors and their loved ones. Harvard will also provide a statement summarizing improvements made to the Anatomical Gift Program.
Harvard Medical School has also agreed to establish an annual financial aid scholarship for medical students beginning with the 2027–2028 academic year in appreciation and honor of its anatomical donors.
Following Lodge’s indictment, Harvard appointed a panel of outside experts to review the Anatomical Gift Program and its policies and practices. The panel made recommendations in six areas—governance, policies, communications, specimens, collections, and facilities. Harvard Medical School has stated that those recommendations have since been implemented.
In announcing the settlement, Harvard Medical School said it was grateful to be working together with the plaintiffs to move forward in a manner that prioritizes support for the families and the Anatomical Gift Program while avoiding prolonged litigation.
About Sauder Schelkopf
Sauder Schelkopf LLC is a national plaintiffs’ rights law firm that litigates class actions, mass torts, and complex civil cases on behalf of individuals, families, and institutions.
About Bochetto & Lentz
Bochetto & Lentz, P.C. is a Philadelphia-based litigation firm representing clients in high-stakes civil and commercial matters nationwide.
About Sauder Schelkopf
Sauder Schelkopf has a nationally recognized litigation practice. The firm currently serves as court-appointed lead counsel in courts across the country. The attorneys at Sauder Schelkopf have recovered over $1 billion on behalf of their clients and class members. Our firm was recognized by the Legal Intelligencer’s 2022 Professional Excellence Awards. The Legal Intelligencer’s Professional Excellence Awards honor Pennsylvania law firms and attorneys who have made a significant, positive impact on the legal profession. Our firm was named in the Litigation Departments of the Year (Specialty Area category; runner-up), an award that honors the best litigation practice in a small or mid-sized firm in Pennsylvania. This recognition was based on the firm’s 2021 litigation work and its important ongoing cases. LawDragon has recognized our attorneys in its list of the “500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers” for 2022. This list notes: “From the opioid epidemic to toxic substances and defective products, truck accidents to wildfires and sexual abuse, these are the lawyers who stand on the front line in individual lawsuits and class actions seeking justice.” Mr. Schelkopf was named to Pennsylvania’s Best Lawyers® 2022 for Class Actions/Mass Tort Litigation. The American Lawyer named Mr. Sauder to its 2021 Northeast Trailblazers. The honor recognizes 60 lawyers who are “truly agents of change.” It “recognizes professionals in the Northeast who have moved the needle in the legal industry.” The Legal Intelligencer named Mr. Sauder and Mr. Schelkopf in its 2020 Pennsylvania Trailblazers list recognizing 31 lawyers who “have taken extra measures to contribute to positive outcomes . . . and who are truly agents of change.” The Legal highlighted the firm’s innovative work on advocacy as class counsel in large institutional sex abuse cover-ups, women’s, and children’s rights. Our attorneys have also consistently been recognized by their peers being named to Pennsylvania SuperLawyer, a distinction held by the top 5% of attorneys in Pennsylvania. The National Trial Lawyers Association has also selected our attorneys as the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania.