Harvard $53 Million Anatomical Gift Program Settlement

Spouses, registered domestic partners, children, parents, siblings or grandchildren of a person who donated their body to the Harvard Medical School Anatomical Gift Program, or those whom the donor named in an instrument of anatomical gift, may be eligible to claim a cash payment from a class action settlement.

The president and fellows of Harvard College agreed to pay $53 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging it failed to safeguard donated remains. The lawsuit claimed this failure allowed others to improperly remove, dismember and sell some donated remains, causing emotional distress and uncertainty for families.

Who can file a claim?

Class members are:

• The spouse or registered domestic partner of a person who donated their body to the Harvard Anatomical Gift Program
• A child, parent or sibling of a donor
• The person named by the donor in the instrument of anatomical gift as the donor’s designee
• A person who received a letter from Harvard regarding the lawsuit on or about June 14, 2023, and/or Dec. 7, 2023
• A grandchild of a donor whose remains left the Harvard morgue between Jan. 1, 2018, and March 31, 2023
• A named plaintiff in one of the consolidated cases related to this matter

The donor’s remains must have left the Harvard morgue for final disposition (cremation or burial) during one of the following periods:

• Primary settlement class: Donors whose remains left the Harvard morgue between Jan. 1, 2018, and March 31, 2023
• Pre-2018 settlement class: Donors whose remains left the Harvard morgue between Jan. 1, 2003, and Dec. 31, 2017

How much is the Harvard anatomical gift program payout?

The total settlement fund is $53 million, which the settlement divides into two parts:

• $52.5 million for the primary settlement class (2018–2023)
• $500,000 for the pre-2018 settlement class (2003–2017)

The amount each class member receives depends on the number of valid claims submitted, the claimant's relationship to the donor and the number of eligible claimants for each donor. The settlement administrator will divide the net settlement fund for each class equally among the number of donors with valid claims. It will then allocate funds among the individuals who filed claims for each donor based on their relationship to the donor.

How to claim a settlement payment

To receive a cash payment, eligible class members must submit an online claim form or print and complete the PDF claim form and mail it to the settlement administrator.

Settlement administrator's mailing address: Harvard Morgue Settlement, c/o Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 25191, Santa Ana, CA 92799

The deadline to file a claim is Dec. 9, 2026.

Required proof/documentation

Claimants must provide documentation to prove their identity and their relationship to the donor. Acceptable documentation includes:

• Government-issued identification for the claimant
• Official or legal documents showing relationship to the donor, such as a birth certificate, death certificate, will or document proving registered domestic partnership
• Relevant anatomical gift program documentation
• Nonlegal documentation, such as obituaries or family records, if necessary

If submitting a claim on behalf of a minor or incapacitated person, the claimants must provide additional proof of relationship and authority such as guardianship or custody documents

Class members using the online claim form must supply the LoginID and PIN they received in their settlement notice.

Payout options

• Physical check mailed to the address provided.

$53 million settlement fund breakdown

The $53,000,000 settlement fund includes:

• Settlement administration costs: To be determined
• Attorneys' fees: Up to $17,666,666.67
• Attorneys' expenses: To be determined
• Payments to eligible class members: Remainder of the fund

Important dates

• Objection deadline: Nov. 16, 2026
• Deadline to file a claim: Dec. 9, 2026
• Final approval hearing: Dec. 9, 2026

When is the Harvard morgue settlement payout date?

The settlement administrator will distribute payments to eligible class members within 60 days after the court resolves any appeals and grants final approval of the settlement.

Why did this class action settlement happen?

The class action lawsuit alleged Harvard and certain individuals failed to properly safeguard the remains of individuals donated to the Harvard anatomical gift program. This alleged failure enabled others to improperly remove, dismember and sell some of the remains, causing emotional distress and uncertainty for families.

Harvard denies these allegations but agreed to settle to avoid the expense and uncertainty of further litigation.

Sources

1. Claim form
2. Class notice
3. Settlement agreement
4. Settlement website FAQ page