Greenwich Selectmen Vote On Settlement In Wrongful Death Lawsuit

GREENWICH, CT — The Greenwich Board of Selectmen on Thursday unanimously voted to approve a $5 million settlement in the wrongful death lawsuit involving a former Greenwich High School sophomore.

The family of Bartlomiej "Bart" Palosz sued the town of Greenwich and the Board of Education in 2015, claiming more should have been done to prevent their son’s death after years of being bullied.

Palosz committed suicide at home after attending his first day of class as a sophomore at GHS on Aug. 27, 2013.

The lawsuit claimed Palosz was bullied constantly during his years at Western Middle School and into his first year at GHS.

Staff and administrators were aware of the bullying, and despite mandatory anti-bullying policies adopted by the board of education, administrators, teachers and counselors failed to comply with the necessary required procedures to protect Palosz and provide him with emotional support and integration in school, the lawsuit claimed.

The town's legal department launched an investigation, as did the Greenwich Police Department. Police found nothing criminal in October 2013.

The case was headed for trial with jury selection slated for next month, according to court records.

Greenwich will pay $930,831.13 as part of the settlement. The remainder will be paid by the town's insurance carrier.

The settlement will not be finalized until the Greenwich Board of Estimate and Taxation and the Representative Town Meeting Claims Committee both vote on it.

"The Board of Selectmen acknowledges this has been an incredibly difficult situation for the Palosz family," the town said in a statement Thursday.

Palosz was born in Poland and moved to Stamford in 2002 and then to Greenwich in 2006, according to his obituary. He enjoyed technology and was a member of the GHS Video Game Club.

According to Greenwich Time, an attorney from the law firm that represents the Palosz family said there would be no comment until the settlement is made official.

Read more from Greenwich Time.