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Special master readies report on Station fire awards

01:00 AM EST on Thursday, November 12, 2009

By Tracy Breton

Journal Staff Writer

PROVIDENCE — A court-appointed special master said in court Tuesday that he’s reviewed what each of the Station nightclub victims is slated to get from the $176 million that’s been offered to settle their lawsuits as well as what each of them may owe in attorney’s fees and expenses.

The lawyer, William A. Poore, told U.S. Magistrate Judge David L. Martin that by Nov. 23, he will file a report with the court with his analysis of the figures he’s been presented, which will include his opinion regarding their fairness. Poore made the review to determine whether the amounts proposed for each minor who has lost support from a parent is being compensated equitably. About 150 minors will be getting some of the proceeds.

Poore told Martin that the victims’ lawyers have agreed on using a “unified settlement sheet” for each client that breaks down awards by amount, attorney’s fees and a pro-rata share of expenses.

The court must approve the amounts before any of the money goes to the victims.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs declined Tuesday after court to reveal anything about the amounts of the proposed settlements, what they are charging for fees or what the expenses have been. They say that some of the victims don’t want anything about their settlements publicized so ethics rules prohibit disclosure.

Sixty-five defendants, including the State of Rhode Island and the Town of West Warwick, have agreed to contribute $176 million to settle the federal lawsuits brought by more than 300 fire victims and their families, many of them minors. One hundred people died and more than 200 were injured in the Feb. 20, 2003, fire.

The fire erupted after the rock band Great White set off pyrotechnics inside the West Warwick club.

tbreton@projo.com

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