Harvard University has agreed to a $53 million settlement to resolve lawsuits concerning the illegal sale of donated body parts. A former Harvard Medical School morgue manager, Cedric Lodge, was found to have stolen and sold body parts from cadavers. These remains, including heads, brains, skin, and bones, were trafficked between 2018 and March 2020. Lodge admitted to these charges and was sentenced to prison. His wife was also convicted and received a prison sentence. Families of the donors sued Harvard, alleging negligence and that the university ignored Lodge's misconduct. A state court judge preliminarily approved the class action settlement on August 18th. This settlement comes eight months after Lodge was indicted. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court had previously revived the lawsuit, finding sufficient claims of Harvard's failure to act in good faith. Harvard officials described Lodge's actions as a "flagrant betrayal of our values." They stated that Lodge's crimes were unknown to the school and that these events do not reflect their reverence for body donors. Harvard expressed sorrow to the families and will offer a statement confirming the reprehensible nature of Lodge's acts.