Overview

• The Supreme Judicial Court unanimously reversed a 2024 dismissal, allowing 12 suits by 47 relatives to proceed against Harvard and program director Mark Cicchetti.
• Justices said the complaints plausibly allege a lack of good faith under the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, removing the statute’s limited immunity.
• The ruling ends claims against manager Tracey Fay but greenlights depositions and requests for internal records from Harvard.
• The opinion faults “extraordinary” supervision failures and flags prior warnings, citing a similar UCLA case and Lodge’s “Grim Reaper” license plate.
• Ex-morgue manager Cedric Lodge pleaded guilty in May to transporting stolen human remains taken between 2018 and 2023 and is awaiting sentencing.