CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — A lawyer for families that sued Harvard Medical School for negligence over the theft of body parts of their loved ones from its morgue pledged to appeal Tuesday after a judge in Boston dismissed the lawsuits.
Suffolk County Superior Court Judge Kenneth Salinger said the lawsuits from donors’ families failed to show Harvard was responsible for the conduct of its morgue manager, accused of the alleged thefts.
Kathryn Barnett, a lawyer representing families, said they aren’t done fighting in the courts. Forty-seven relatives of people who donated their bodies brought 12 separate lawsuits which were consolidated, she said.
“We are profoundly disappointed with this decision, but it is not the final word on our efforts to prevent Harvard from shirking its responsibility,” she said. “We will appeal.”
A spokesperson for Harvard said the school would not comment on the judge’s decision.
Barnett faulted Salinger’s ruling, saying he too readily accepted Harvard’s argument that they acted in good faith and shouldn’t be held responsible.