PROVIDENCE — 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 the 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 move the massive liability 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.

One hundred died from the fire at The Station, on Cowesett Avenue in West Warwick, which broke out the night of Feb. 20, 2003. More than 200 others were injured. The fire erupted after sparks from pyrotechnics set off by the rock band Great White ignited highly flammable polyurethane foam that had been installed as soundproofing on the walls and ceiling of the club by its owners, Michael and Jeffrey Derderian.

The $176 million in settlement offers comes from every defendant still being sued by the fire victims.

tbreton@projo.com