Bazelon v. South Hadley

Emily Bazelon, a reporter and editor for the national news organization Slate, filed a lawsuit in Superior Court on Dec. 2, 2011 against the Town of South Hadley and town officials, seeking an order requiring disclosure of public records concerning the Town's settlement after the suicide of South Hadley High School student Phoebe Prince--a death widely linked in local and national media to severe bullying by students at the school. Ms. Bazelon made numerous requests for details of the Town's settlement with Prince's parents, without success.

Responding to an order from Massachusetts Superior Court Judge Mary-Lou Rup, town officials on Dec. 27, 2011 disclosed that the Town and School Department of South Hadley settled the lawsuit brought against them by Prince's parents for $225,000, in exchange for full release of all claims.