Settlement Reached Over School Meeting On Bullying

A $75,000 settlement has been reached in a lawsuit over an emotional school committee meeting in South Hadley, after the suicide of 15-year-old Phoebe Prince.

The settlement was reached in the suit filed by Luke Gelinas, who alleged that his civil rights were violated when police removed him from a school committee meeting. The April 2010 meeting was held to discuss criminal bullying charges against South Hadley High School students after Prince's suicide.

Gelinas was openly critical of the way school officials handled the case.

"It's time to hold the adults responsible," he said in the meeting.

A judge ruled that the committee engaged in so-called "viewpoint discrimination" — choosing who could speak at the meeting, based on their point of view.