Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Those involved in the Station nightclub fire lawsuit are close to agreement on a release form that the plaintiffs will have to fill out to receive money from the $176-million settlement offer to which defendants have agreed to contribute.

During a status conference Monday in U.S. District Court, Providence, plaintiffs' lawyer Mark S. Mandell told Magistrate Judge David L. Martin that "it's as close as we have ever been."

Mandell said in court that he thinks there may be an agreement but "we're just waiting for some last-minute feedback." He expressed hope that the parties to the case will be able to report a definite agreement at the next conference set for Aug. 11 at 10 a.m. The form has been something the lawyers in the case have been working on for months.

The Feb. 20, 2003, fire at the nightclub on Cowesett Avenue, West Warwick, killed 100 people and injured more than 200 others. Sparks from pyrotechnics set off by the hard-rock group Great White ignited flammable foam that had been installed as soundproofing on the walls and ceiling by the club's owners.

Fire victims and their families sued various defendants in federal court. In March, Magistrate Judge Martin approved the proposed $176-million distribution plan. Judge Ronald R. Lagueux, the other jurist overseeing the case, recently ordered a court-appointed special master to review the dollar amount that children of the fire victims will get under the settlements.

 Tags  courts Station fire West Warwick

Comments

Ed said:

To leave those persons languishing for almost 7 years is shameful.

Link | July 13, 2009 9:19 PM
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