Sauder Schelkopf and Bochetto & Lentz have filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of individuals whose loved ones’ remains were reportedly mishandled and sold.
“We look forward to litigating this case on behalf of our client, whose father’s remains were entrusted to Harvard Medical School to further medical education. This was consistent with his life as a dedicated pediatrician. Harvard Medical School failed him, his family, and everyone impacted by these horrific acts,” said attorneys Joe Sauder of Sauder Schelkopf and Bryan Lentz of Bochetto & Lentz.
On October 27, 2023, the Court appointed Joseph Sauder of Sauder Schelkopf LLC and Bryan Lentz of Bochetto & Lentz to the Steering Committee of this case.
On June 14, 2023, it was announced that several individuals were indicted by a federal grand jury alleging that a nationwide network of individuals bought and sold human remains stolen from Harvard Medical School and an Arkansas mortuary. The charges allege that from 2018 through 2022 an individual who “managed the morgue for the Anatomical Gifts Program at Harvard Medical School, located in Boston, Massachusetts, stole organs and other parts of cadavers donated for medical research and education before their scheduled cremations.” It was alleged that at times the individual “transported stolen remains from Boston to his residence in Goffstown, New Hampshire, where he and his wife . . . sold the remains . . . making arrangements via cellular telephone and social media websites.” It was further alleged that this individual allowed other “to enter the morgue at Harvard Medical School and examine cadavers to choose what to purchase.” It is alleged that some stolen human remains were purchased from an individual who stole remains from her employer, a Little Rock, Arkansas mortuary, and crematorium. According to Harvard Medical School, “The Anatomical Gift Program is an altruistic, whole-body donation program in which individuals can donate their bodies to Harvard Medical School to advance medical education and research following their death.”
Sauder Schelkopf and Bochetto & Lentz filed a class action lawsuit in El Paso County on behalf of individuals whose loved ones’ funeral arrangements were handled by Return to Nature Funeral Home based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. At least 189 dead and decaying bodies were recovered from the Return to Nature Funeral Home. The Fremont County Sheriff described the scene as “horrific.” Our firms have also litigated cases New Jersey and Michigan on behalf of individuals whose loved ones’ bodies were mishandled
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