Harvard Morgue Settlement: Who Qualifies, Claim by Dec 9
A $53M settlement covers families of Harvard body donors. Two classes, who qualifies, how to file a claim by December 9, 2026, and the November 16 objection date.
A proposed $53 million settlement would resolve claims against Harvard College and Mark F. Cicchetti over donated human remains, with claim forms due by December 9, 2026.
You may be a class member if you are an eligible family member or designee of a donor whose body left the Harvard morgue between January 1, 2003 and March 31, 2023. The notice defines the classes by relationship and by the date the donor's remains left the morgue. Qualifying family members include spouses, registered domestic partners, children, parents, siblings, designees named in anatomical gift forms, and grandchildren of donors whose remains left the facility between 2018 and March 31, 2023. To receive a payment, you must submit a signed claim form online or by mail by December 9, 2026. The settlement portal is available at the official settlement website, HarvardMorgueSettlement.com.
The consolidated litigation is titled MacTaggart v. President and Fellows of Harvard College (In re Harvard Morgue Cases), Case No. 2384CV01389-BLS2, pending in the Business Litigation Session of the Suffolk Superior Court in Massachusetts. A proposed $53,000,000 settlement would resolve the claims, while Harvard and Mr. Cicchetti deny all allegations of liability or wrongdoing. The proposed settlement remains subject to review at a formal hearing scheduled for December 9, 2026.
Who Qualifies for the Harvard Morgue Settlement?
You may be a class member if you meet the relationship criteria and the donor's body left the morgue between January 1, 2003 and March 31, 2023. The official court-authorized notice defines eligibility through a relationship test paired with the date the donor's remains were released from the morgue for burial or cremation.
To satisfy the relationship test, you must fit into at least one of these qualifying categories:
- A spouse or registered domestic partner of the donor.
- A child, parent, or sibling of the donor.
- An individual named as the designee in the donor's Instrument of Anatomical Gift.
- A recipient of correspondence sent by Harvard regarding the subject matter on or about June 14, 2023 or December 7, 2023.
- A grandchild of a donor whose body left the morgue on or between January 1, 2018 and March 31, 2023.
- A named plaintiff in one of the underlying consolidated actions.
Certain individuals are explicitly excluded from class membership. Excluded parties include President and Fellows of Harvard College, Mark F. Cicchetti, entities released by the settlement, Cedric Lodge, Denise Lodge, the judges assigned to the litigation, and members of those judges' immediate families. If you are uncertain about your dates, the Settlement Administrator may be able to determine which class you belong to through Harvard's internal donor records.
What the Settlement Pays
The Harvard morgue settlement establishes a settlement fund of $53,000,000 alongside non-cash commitments. The lawsuit arose after plaintiffs alleged that Harvard and Mr. Cicchetti failed to safeguard donated remains in the Harvard Anatomical Gift Program (AGP), allowing others to improperly remove, dismember and sell some of them. Those actions allegedly caused emotional distress and lingering uncertainty for families regarding the fate of their loved ones' remains. Harvard and Mr. Cicchetti deny all allegations of wrongdoing, and the court has reached no finding on liability.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Primary Settlement Class Fund | $52,500,000 allocated to donors whose remains left the morgue between 2018 and March 31, 2023 |
| Pre-2018 Settlement Class Fund | $500,000 allocated to donors whose remains left the morgue between 2003 and December 31, 2017 |
| Dean's Statement | A live-webinar statement delivered to claimant families by the Dean for Medical Education of Harvard Medical School condemning the criminal conduct |
| Policy Summary | A statement summarizing changes to oversight, security, policies and training in the Harvard AGP |
| Academic Scholarship | Creation of an AGP Donors Scholarship awarded to a medical student |
Primary Class and Pre-2018 Class
The settlement divides participating families into two separate classes based on the donor's Removal Receipt Date. This date represents the official calendar day when the donor's body left the Harvard morgue and was transferred for cremation or final burial. Each group draws from a separate settlement fund established under the settlement agreement.
| Settlement Class | Donor's Remains Left the Morgue | Allocated Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Settlement Class | On or between January 1, 2018 and March 31, 2023 | $52,500,000 |
| Pre-2018 Settlement Class | On or between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2017 | $500,000 |
The Primary Settlement Class includes grandchildren of donors in addition to parents, spouses, children, siblings, and designees. Grandchildren of donors are included only in the Primary Settlement Class.
You can check the official settlement website at HarvardMorgueSettlement.com if you are unsure which date window applies to your family member. The settlement administrator may be able to determine which class you belong to from Harvard's donor records.
How Payments Are Calculated
Individual settlement payments are determined through a two-step formula outlined in the Plan of Allocation. First, the net settlement fund for each class is divided equally by the total number of donors associated with timely, approved claims. Second, the resulting per-donor sum is distributed among eligible family members who submitted valid claim forms based on their relationship to that donor.
Class counsel will request court approval for attorneys' fees of up to one-third of the settlement amount, which equals up to $17,666,666.67, plus reimbursement of reasonable litigation expenses. Any court-approved award for fees and expenses is deducted before money is allocated to class members.
The exact dollar amount that any individual claimant will receive remains unknown at this stage. Final payments depend on the total number of valid claims received, the relationship breakdown among claimants for each donor, and the final deductions approved by the court. No individual amount can be stated yet. If the Court approves and there are no delays, payments are expected within 60 days after the settlement becomes effective.
Harvard Morgue Settlement Deadlines
The notice sets two dates for you to act on. Missing the claim submission deadline will prevent you from receiving any money from the fund while you remain bound by the release if the Court approves the settlement.
| Date | What Happens |
|---|---|
| November 16, 2026 | Deadline to file and serve written objections to the settlement |
| December 9, 2026 | Final deadline to submit a signed claim form online or by mail |
| December 9, 2026 | Final approval hearing at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) in Boston |
To submit a valid objection, your written filing must be received by the court or postmarked by November 16, 2026. Objections must be sent to the Civil Clerk's Office, Suffolk Superior Court, Three Pemberton Square, Boston, MA 02108, with formal copies delivered to class counsel. Each objection must include the caption In re Harvard Morgue Cases, Case No. 2384CV01389-BLS2, your name, mailing address, email address, telephone number, the donor's name, your signature, specific grounds, supporting documentation, details of any retained attorney, and a statement confirming whether you plan to attend the hearing.
The final approval hearing will take place at 2:00 p.m. EST on December 9, 2026, in Courtroom 1017 of the Suffolk Superior Court. The court will determine whether the settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate, review pending objections, and rule on class counsel's application for fees and expenses. Hearing dates can change without further notice, so check HarvardMorgueSettlement.com for scheduling modifications.
Your Options: Claim, Object or Do Nothing
Class members can choose one of three paths under the notice. Our explainer on how class action settlements work covers the general process.
- File a claim. Submit a signed claim form by mail or through the web portal by December 9, 2026 to seek a payment. Submitting a claim releases your legal rights to pursue separate claims against the settling defendants regarding these events.
- Object and still claim. If you object, the notice says you must still submit a claim form by December 9, 2026 if you want a payment.
- Do nothing. You will receive no payment, but you will still be bound by the settlement. A final approval order releases and waives the right to sue the Settling Defendants over the issues in the case, even if you receive no money.
For broader context on missed submission windows across national cases, review our directory of October 2026 claim deadlines and our resource on unclaimed settlement money.
Class Counsel are Keches Law Group, P.C. and Morgan & Morgan, with Meehan Boyle as plaintiffs' liaison counsel. You can contact class counsel by phone at (888) 619-5032 or by email at hmsclass@kecheslaw.com. You do not need to hire your own attorney to participate, but you may retain independent counsel at your own expense. To prepare your claim, keep any correspondence Harvard mailed to you in 2023 along with your donor records, and read our primer on how to claim settlement money. You can also research related disputes across our broader class actions directory.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I file a Harvard morgue settlement claim?
You file a claim by submitting a signed claim form by mail or through the portal at HarvardMorgueSettlement.com. All claim submissions must be completed online or submitted by mail by December 9, 2026. You must submit a signed form to receive compensation.
What is the Harvard morgue settlement deadline?
The deadline to submit a signed claim form online or by mail is December 9, 2026. If you want to object to the settlement, your written objection must be received by the court or postmarked by November 16, 2026. The final approval hearing is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. EST on December 9, 2026.
How much is the Harvard morgue settlement?
The total settlement fund is $53,000,000. From this total, $52,500,000 is allocated to the Primary Settlement Class covering donors whose remains left the morgue between 2018 and March 31, 2023. The remaining $500,000 is allocated to the Pre-2018 Settlement Class for donors whose remains left the morgue between 2003 and December 31, 2017.
How will my payment amount be decided?
Each net settlement fund will first be divided equally by the total number of donors associated with approved, timely claims. That per-donor amount is then divided among the eligible family members who filed valid claims based on their relationship to the donor under the Plan of Allocation. The exact payment per person cannot be determined until all claims and court-approved deductions are finalized.
Do I have to file a claim if I object?
Yes, you must submit a valid claim form by December 9, 2026 if you want to receive payment, even if you file an objection. Objecting to the settlement terms does not automatically register you for a financial recovery. If your objection is overruled and the settlement receives final approval, you will only receive compensation if you filed a timely claim form.
What happens if I do nothing?
If you do nothing, you will receive no money from the settlement funds. If the court grants final approval, you will be bound by the settlement and your right to sue the Settling Defendants over these issues is released, even though you receive no payment.
Do I need my own lawyer?
No, you do not need to hire your own attorney to file a claim or participate in the settlement. Class Counsel are Keches Law Group, P.C. and Morgan & Morgan. You have the right to hire your own attorney at your own personal expense if you prefer independent representation.
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