$75K settlement in S. Hadley lawsuit

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - A lawsuit filed by a South Hadley parent who says he was silenced in a public meeting by the town’s former school committee chairman, has been settled for $75,000.

According to a news release sent to 22News by the Law Offices of Howard Friedman, their client, Luke Gelinas , has just received payment.

Gelinas sued former Chairman Ed Boiselle, who Gelinas says violated his civil rights by silencing him during a meeting in April 2010. Gelinas had been upset with school officials following the death of student Phoebe Prince .

“This law suit was not about money, although the final amount speaks loudly,” Gelinas said in a statement. “It was about social justice, which has been served. Most of the settlement goes to pay the expenses of litigation. I will also make some private and personal donations from my person.”wwlp

Prince’s parents, Anne O’Brien and Jeremy Prince, also released a statement regarding the lawsuit: “We will be forever grateful to Luke Gelinas. We are pleased that he has been able to settle his claim regarding a violation of his civil rights.”

The settlement was decided upon by Judge Kenneth Neiman at U.S. District Court in Springfield.