A Massachusetts judge has dismissed a case brought by families who had their loved ones’ body parts stolen from Harvard Medical School’s mortuary against the school.
Suffolk County Superior Court Judge Kenneth Salinger said the families’ lawsuits have not established that Harvard is responsible for the conduct of the mortuary manager accused of the alleged thefts.
A lawyer for the families, Kathryn Barnett, said they are not done with their legal battle and announced their intention to appeal the ruling.
“We are deeply disappointed by this decision, but it is not the last word on our efforts to prevent Harvard from shirking its responsibility,” she said.
Nearly fifty family members of people who donated their bodies to science have filed a dozen separate lawsuits, which have been merged into one lawsuit.
Harvard Medical School was sued by the families of deceased individuals whose body parts were stolen after they were donated to the institution for scientific research
Cedric Lodge (pictured) – the manager of the school’s mortuary – is accused of stealing the remains of cadavers donated to the prestigious university for scientific research and education
Barnett criticized the judge for too readily accepting the Ivy League institution’s argument that they acted in good faith and therefore should not be held responsible for the mortuary manager’s alleged actions.
Cedric Lodge, 65, the manager, allegedly stole heads, brains, skin and other body parts from cadavers donated to the prestigious university for scientific research and education, and sold them to buyers across the country.
One of Lodge’s alleged buyers, Jeremy Pauley, 41, pleaded guilty last year according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
He faces fifteen years behind bars.
He admitted that he knowingly purchased stolen human remains from various people and then sold many of the stolen remains to other individuals who also knew they had been stolen.
Pauley and six others were charged in June with trafficking stolen human remains, including skulls, hearts, skin and stillborn babies, from the mortuary manager of Harvard Medical School.
Trials are still pending against the other defendants, including Lodge of Goffstown, New Hampshire, who is accused of stealing dissected parts of cadavers donated to the medical school between 2018 and 2023.
Lodge’s wife, Denise, 63, also faces charges in connection with the case.
Lodge reportedly took the body parts home, including heads, brains, skin and bones, and sent some body parts to buyers. He also allegedly allowed buyers to come to the morgue to choose what else they wanted to buy.
According to Harvard, he was fired on May 6 last year.
According to police, the body parts were taken without the knowledge or permission of the school.
One of Lodge’s alleged buyers, Jeremy Pauley (pictured), 41, pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy and interstate transportation of stolen property
He admitted that he knowingly purchased stolen human remains from several people and then sold many of the stolen remains to others, including some who also knew they had been stolen.
The families’ attorney said they will appeal the case, arguing that HMS should bear more responsibility than the judge allows for the safekeeping of donated bodies.
Barnett said Tuesday that more of the responsibility for protecting donated bodies should fall to the institution to which they are donated.
“If you’re an institution and you want to accept bodies for science, you can just hire someone, give him the keys to the morgue, send him to a dark corner of campus and never look at him again,” she said.
“That can’t be the law.”
Salinger pointed out Harvard’s qualified immunity under the Massachusetts version of the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act in his decision.
“The factual allegations in the complaints do not plausibly suggest that these Harvard Defendants failed to act in good faith in receiving and handling the donated bodies,” Salinger wrote.
A Harvard spokesperson said the school would not comment on the judge’s decision.