Lawyer: Settlements likely in 2003 nightclub fire

The only band member to die in the fire was Ty Longley,
formerly of Brookfield.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Several defendants being sued by relatives of the 100 people killed in a 2003 nightclub fire have tentatively agreed to a $13.5 million settlement, a lawyer for one family said Wednesday.

The settlements, if approved by a judge, would be the first in what the plaintiffs hope will be several agreements with dozens of defendants in the lawsuits stemming from the Feb. 20, 2003, fire at the Station nightclub in West Warwick. The fire also injured 200 people.

“It’s just the beginning,” said Michael St. Pierre, one of the attorneys representing nearly 300 fire survivors and victims’ relatives who have sued in federal court.

The fire began when pyrotechnics for the rock band Great White ignited flammable sound-absorbing foam around the stage and the club’s walls. The foam quickly spread the blaze throughout the one-story roadhouse. Among those killed was band member and guitarist Ty Longley, 31, formerly from Sharon, Pa., and Brookfield, Ohio.

Tentative agreements

Among the companies that have tentatively agreed to settle are a manufacturers of soundproofing material, a manufacturer and vendor of pyrotechnics, the company that leased the building to club owners Jeffrey and Michael Derderian, and an alarm company, according to court papers.

Dave Kane, father of 18-year-old Nicholas O’Neill, the youngest fire victim, said families still want accountability for the fire beyond any financial settlement. But, he added, the money would be useful to people whose lives were damaged.

“There are so many people that are really desperate for this — out of necessity now, not greed,” he said.

John Barylick, an attorney for the families, said the settlement is dependent on the court’s appointing a special master to oversee the distribution of the money.

“There is certainly agreement among the parties to settle, but it’s dependent on clearing some legal hurdles,” Barylick said.

The lawyers are recommending that Francis McGovern, a law professor at Duke University, serve as special master. They say he has fulfilled similar duties in more than 50 cases, including litigation over silicone breast implants and DDT pesticide exposure.

Word of the potential settlement came hours before the state parole board heard from victims’ families about a possible early release from prison for Daniel Biechele, the former tour manager for Great White.

Biechele, who pleaded guilty last year to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter and is serving a four-year prison sentence, is eligible for parole this month.

The Derderians and Biechele were convicted last year of 100 counts each of involuntary manslaughter. Jeffrey Derderian was sentenced to 500 hours of community service, while his brother was sentenced to serve four years in prison.