Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

By Tracy Breton
Journal staff writer

PROVIDENCE -- A court-appointed master today filed a plan with the federal court for distributing $176 million in settlement money to those who lost loved ones or suffered injuries in The Station nightclub fire.

The plan of distribution devised by Duke University Law Prof. Francis E. McGovern differs very little from the original one that was distributed last fall to more than 300 plaintiffs who have filed lawsuits seeking money damages in connection with the catastrophic blaze.

Under the plan, the survivors who were most badly burned and were hospitalized the longest will receive more money than several of the families who lost loved ones in the fire. A minor child could receive more than a surviving spouse.

McGovern's plan operates on a point system and he proposes different point systems for death cases and for injury claims. The system is similar to those used in other large liability cases, such as the settlements in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

As long as plaintiffs can prove they were inside the club the night of Feb. 20, 2003, when the fire broke out and can properly document injuries -- physical or psychological -- they will receive a share of the $176 million. One hundred people died as a result of the fire and more than 200 were injured.

Under the proposed plan, points are allocated by categories of harm, such as a minor losing a parent, medical expenses and physical and psychological injuries. Each category has a number of points. Each victim will be assigned points based on categories of harm that apply.

Some victims have been told that they can expect to receive several hundred thousand dollars while others may receive less than $20,000. Others are expected to receive more than $1 million.

In a separate report filed simultaneously with McGovern's, William A. Poore, the Providence lawyer appointed by the court to represent the dozens of minors who will receive some of the settlement money says the professor's proposed plan of distribution "meets acceptable standards for fairness, consistency and justice."

 Tags  report Station fire

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