Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- U.S. Magistrate Judge David L. Martin has approved a proposed plan for distributing $176 million in settlement offers that have been made to more than 300 people who lost loved ones or suffered injuries in The Station nightclub fire in 2003.

In a brief order, Martin also approved the appointment of Jeffrey Dahl, of Faribault, Minn., to be a neutral verification expert in the case. Dahl has developed claim forms that will have to be completed by the fire victims before they receive any money from the settlements.

Martin also granted a motion to establish a special trust fund that needs to be created as a repository for the settlement proceeds and to appoint Massachusetts lawyer Paul A. Finn as administrator for the trust fund.

None of the defendants sued by the victims filed objections to these motions and Martin, in his order, said he "sees no reason why they should not be granted."

Martin's actions moves the massive tort case closer to resolution. Now that he has approved the proposed settlement plan devised by Duke University Law School Prof. Francis E. McGovern -- which awards different points to victims for death cases and for injury claims -- Dahl can begin his work, which is estimated to take no more than 83 days. Dahl will meet with the victims' lawyers and verify that all information submitted by those seeking money damages is accurate and accompanied by required documentation.

None of the victims knows at this point exactly how much they will receive. Those who were most badly burned in the fire and had the highest medical bills could end up getting more than those who lost a family member in the fire.

 Tags  fire U.S. District Court West Warwick

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