Mistreatment of a Corpse in Boston

Earlier this year, it was uncovered at Harvard Medical School (HMS) the former morgue manager and other accomplices sold stolen human body parts. According to the federal investigation, Lodge, the former morgue manager at Harvard, along with his wife and four other suspects named in a federal indictment, are accused of selling stolen human body parts through a Facebook group for those interested in buying, selling, and trading "oddities."

The human remains sold by Lodge and his accomplices allegedly include the following:

• Fetal remains
• Genitals
• Hearts
• Skin
• Skulls

Lodge had worked for Harvard's morgue since 1995. According to the criminal indictment, he had allegedly stolen parts of the donated cadavers that had been dissected between 2018 to early 2023. If you believe your loved ones have been affected by the Harvard morgue incident, we may be able to help you. Contact a Morgan & Morgan attorney to learn more today.

Morgan & Morgan has filed a lawsuit against Harvard University and its medical school after a federal investigation uncovered that the school's morgue was at the center of a nationwide black market focused on selling human remains and body parts from the school's donated cadavers. The lawsuit accuses Harvard of violating its responsibility to protect the human remains entrusted to it. The suit explains that the Harvard incident represents "an unthinkable, unconscionable breach of trust by an institution that holds itself out as the very pinnacle of excellence." 

The lawsuit also comments on the school's lax policies and procedures regarding safeguarding the donated cadavers and vetting and hiring staff members. In support of their claim, and according to the federal report, the policies in place at the school are so lax that Cedric Lodge, the former morgue manager, allegedly brought human remains to his home in New Hampshire to sell. It was also reported in at least one instance Lodge brought prospective buyers to the school's morgue to hand pick which remains they were interested in purchasing.

If you are in the Boston area and believe a lost loved one may have been involved or affected by the Harvard morgue incident, don't hesitate to reach out to a Morgan & Morgan attorney today. We can provide you with a free, no-obligation case evaluation to determine your eligibility and what your next steps can be.

According to the Harvard webpage dedicated to the family members affected by this incident, members can contact Harvard's information and support line for donor families at 617-432-1735 to learn if their family has been involved. The individuals who answer the phone have a list of their Anatomical Gift Program donors. When callers are connected, they will be prompted to provide the donor's name and month/year of death. 

With the information provided, they will be able to disclose whether your loved one's remains were potentially impacted based on information supplied by federal authorities and HMS' own records. The logs referenced during this time include those showing when the donor's remains were sent to be cremated and if they align with when former HMS employee Cedric Lodge was on campus.

For more information on whether or not your lost family member was affected by the Harvard morgue incident, you can contact a Morgan & Morgan attorney.

Victims of the Harvard morgue incident may be eligible to recover compensation in the form of emotional distress, pain and suffering, punitive damages, and more. However, the only way to know what form of compensation you and your loved ones may be eligible for is by speaking with an experienced attorney. For more information and an accurate estimation of what you may be eligible to recover, you can contact a Morgan & Morgan attorney today by completing our free, no-obligation case evaluation form. 

Contacting an attorney can help you better understand what legal options you have available to you. If you are in the Boston area and suspect a lost loved one has been affected by the Harvard morgue incident, we may be able to help you. For more information regarding the lawsuit, and if you may be eligible to join, connect with one of our attorneys by completing our free, no-obligation case evaluation form today.