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Harvard Medical School Human Remains Sales Settlement

Harvard University Medical School · Anatomical Gift Program and donated human remains · Settlement Reached

About this case

Harvard University agreed to pay $53 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging that a former morgue manager illegally sold human remains connected to the university's medical school. The matter has reached a settlement, and Harvard said it plans to improve its Anatomical Gift Program and establish a scholarship honoring donors.

Case overview

Defendant company
Harvard University Medical School
Product or service
Anatomical Gift Program and donated human remains
Court case number
2384CV01389-BLS2
Case status
Settlement Reached
Lawsuit type
Other
Reported harm
Other

Participation information

Settlement Claim

Potentially eligible individuals include living spouses, registered domestic partners, children, grandchildren, parents, siblings, and qualifying Harvard Anatomical Gift Program designees of donors whose remains had a removal receipt date from 2018-01-01 through 2023-03-31. A narrower group of living spouses, registered domestic partners, children, parents, siblings, and qualifying designees may qualify for donors with removal receipt dates from 2003-01-01 through 2017-12-31.

Submit a timely, valid claim form through the court-approved settlement process and provide documentation supporting the claimed relationship to the donor. A verified official claim form or claim-filing URL was not located.

Type
Settlement Claim
Total settlement amount
$53,000,000
Payout
Eligible class members may receive a cash payment from the applicable settlement fund. The amount will vary based on the number of valid claims filed for each donor and the claimant's relationship-based allocation. The settlement also includes non-cash relief, including a family webinar and statement concerning the misconduct, disclosures regarding Anatomical Gift Program improvements, and a medical scholarship honoring anatomical donors.
Reported proof requirement
Yes

Settlement Claim

Potentially eligible claimants include specified living relatives and qualifying Anatomical Gift Program designees of donors whose remains had removal receipt dates from January 1, 2018 through March 31, 2023, and a separate pre-2018 class covering January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2017. The exact class definitions and exclusions must be confirmed in the court-approved notice.

Submit a timely, valid claim form through the court-approved settlement process and provide documentation supporting the claimant's relationship to the donor. The official claim form, filing method, and deadline were not verified in the available sources.

Type
Settlement Claim
Total settlement amount
$53,000,000
Payout
Eligible claimants may receive cash from one of two settlement funds. Individual payments are variable and depend on the applicable fund, the number of valid claims for the donor, and the claimant's relationship-based allocation. Harvard also agreed to non-cash relief, including a public statement, a webinar, Anatomical Gift Program reforms, and a medical scholarship honoring donors.
Reported proof requirement
Yes

Sources