Digital Extra: The Station Fire

05:42 PM EDT on Wednesday, May 25, 2005

The Associated Press

PROVIDENCE - A federal judge has dismissed some of the civil claims against WPRI-TV in connection with the deadly fire at The Station nightclub.

U.S. District Judge Ronald Lagueux ruled that the TV station can't be held responsible for the actions of one of its reporters, Jeffrey Derderian, who was co-owner of West Warwick club, where a February 2003 fire killed 100 concertgoers and injured about 200.

However, the judge did not dismiss other pending claims against the TV station and one of its cameramen, Brian Butler, who is accused in some lawsuits of blocking one of the exits as he filmed the fire.

WPRI said it plans to file a separate motion on Butler's behalf.

The club was destroyed in a fire after a band's pyrotechnics set ablaze highly flammable foam on the club's walls and ceilings. It was the fourth deadliest nightclub fire in U.S. history.

Jeffrey Derderian, his brother and co-owner Michael, and the band's tour manager have each been charged with 200 counts of involuntary manslaughter. A number of lawsuits have also been filed by the families of fire victims and survivors.