$53M Harvard morgue class action settlement

Harvard University has agreed to pay $53 million in a class action settlement to resolve claims that it failed to safeguard human remains donated to its anatomical gift program.

The Harvard settlement benefits individuals who are a spouse, registered domestic partner, child, parent, sibling or grandchild of a person who donated their body to the Harvard Anatomical Gift Program and whose body left the Harvard Morgue for cremation or burial between Jan. 1, 2003, and March 31, 2023.

The settlement also benefits individuals who are the person named by the donor in the Instrument of Anatomical Gift as the donor’s designee or who received a letter from Harvard regarding the subject matter of the lawsuit on or about June 14, 2023, and/or Dec. 7, 2023.

The Harvard Morgue lawsuit settlement includes individuals who are a grandchild of a donor whose body left the Harvard Morgue for cremation or burial between Jan. 1, 2018, and March 31, 2023.

According to the class action lawsuit resolved by this settlement, Harvard failed to safeguard human remains donated to its anatomical gift program. Plaintiffs in the case say that as a result of Harvard’s negligence, human remains were improperly removed, dismembered and sold by former staff members.

Harvard University is a private university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The university has a medical school that accepts human remains for anatomical study.

Harvard has not admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to pay a $53 million class action settlement to resolve the allegations.

Under the terms of the Harvard settlement, class members can receive a cash payment based on their relationship to the donor and the number of valid claims filed with the settlement. The class action settlement fund will be divided equally among the number of donors with valid claims filed. Each claimant will then receive a proportional share of the net settlement fund based on their relationship to the donor.

The deadline to object to the class action settlement is Nov. 16, 2026.

The final approval hearing for the Harvard Morgue lawsuit settlement is scheduled for Dec. 9, 2026.

To receive class action settlement settlement benefits, class members must submit a valid claim form by Dec. 9, 2026.

Who’s Eligible

The Harvard settlement benefits individuals who are a spouse, registered domestic partner, child, parent, sibling or grandchild of a person who donated their body to the Harvard Anatomical Gift Program and whose body left the Harvard Morgue for cremation or burial between Jan. 1, 2003, and March 31, 2023.

The settlement also benefits individuals who are the person named by the donor in the Instrument of Anatomical Gift as the donor’s designee or who received a letter from Harvard regarding the subject matter of the lawsuit on or about June 14, 2023, and/or Dec. 7, 2023.

The Harvard Morgue lawsuit settlement includes individuals who are a grandchild of a donor whose body left the Harvard Morgue for cremation or burial between Jan. 1, 2018, and March 31, 2023.

Potential Award

Varies

Proof of Purchase

Proof of relationship (donor’s Social Security number, death certificates, birth certificates, a will or other legal documentation)

Claim Form

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

12/09/2026

Case Name

In re: Harvard Morgue Cases, Case No. 2384CV01389-BLS2, in the Massachusetts Superior Court for Suffolk County

Final Hearing

12/09/2026

Settlement Website

HarvardMorgueSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Harvard Morgue Settlement
c/o Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 25191
Santa Ana, CA 92799
[email protected]
888-511-3418

Class Counsel

Jeffrey N. Catalano
Jonathan D. Sweet
KECHES LAW GROUP P.C.

Shannon M. Pennock
MORGAN & MORGAN

Meehan Boyle
Leo V. Boyle
A KECHES LAW FIRM

Defense Counsel

CLOHERTY & STEINBERG LLP