The William S. Hart School District governing board announced it has settled Saugus High shooting lawsuits for $10 million.

Emerging from a closed session, William S. Hart School District governing board President Linda Storli announced that the District had reached a settlement agreement regarding the two lawsuits filed as a result of the Saugus High School shooting that occurred in November 2019.

“After five long, excruciating years—four of which were consumed by this litigation—we have finally reached an end to this chapter,” the families of Gracie Anne Muehlberger and Dominic Michael Blackwell shared in a joint statement. “Nothing can ever justify the loss of my daughter Gracie, or Dominic, or the pain endured by the children directly involved in the shooting and so many others that were there that fateful day, including the impact to the community on that horrific day.”

$10 million is set to be paid out to the families of Gracie Anne Muehlberger and Dominic Michael Blackwell, who were 15 and 14 years old, respectively, when they were killed in the shooting incident.

The settlement is expected to be paid out of the District’s insurance provider and each family is anticipated to receive $5 million. The vote to settle the lawsuits was unanimous.

“While this settlement allows us to avoid a lengthy, emotionally painful trial, it does not erase the pain we feel,” the families added. “The thought of survivors and others directly affected having to relive that tragic day in a courtroom was unbearable, and it weighed heavily on our decision to settle. This agreement provides closure to the legal process, but it will never close the hole in my heart or in the hearts of those who loved Gracie and Dominic.”

As the families reflect on the years since the tragedy, they expressed dismay at the lack of progress made in addressing school safety, “Despite the years that have passed, it is disheartening to see how little progress has been made in addressing the very issues we sought to highlight.”

Looking ahead, the families intend to continue supporting youth through The GracieStrong and DMB Foundations. “We’d like to thank the community for their continued love and support,” they concluded.

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