Settlement In R.I. Nightclub Fire Lawsuit

(AP)  Home Depot Inc. and a Connecticut insulation company have tentatively agreed to a $5 million settlement in lawsuits brought by survivors of a 2003 nightclub fire and relatives of the 100 people killed, a lawyer for the families said Wednesday.

Atlanta-based Home Depot and Polar Industries Inc. join a handful of defendants who have agreed to settle with more than 300 people who sued for the fire at The Station nightclub in West Warwick. About 90 defendants remain.

The agreement brings to $18.5 million the total amount of settlement money offered so far.

The fire began when pyrotechnics ignited by the rock band Great White set ablaze flammable soundproofing foam around the stage.

Polar Industries, based in Prospect, Conn., made insulation that the victims' lawyers say was dangerous and defective. The material, called PolarGuard, was placed in the ceiling of the drummer's alcove by a prior club owner, presumably for soundproofing purposes.

Home Depot, the world's largest home improvement store chain, sold the material.

Lawyers for both companies declined to comment Wednesday. It had not yet been decided how the two would split payment of the settlement money, lawyers said.

A group of other defendants, including a pyrotechnic maker and vendor, an alarm company and the realty company that leased the club to owners Jeffrey and Michael Derderian, agreed to settle earlier this year for $13.5 million.

Mark Mandell, one of the lawyers for the families, announced the new settlements at a court hearing Wednesday while urging the appointment of a law school professor to oversee the distribution of settlement proceeds in the case.

U.S. District Judge Ronald Lagueux agreed to appoint Francis McGovern, a Duke University law school professor recommended by the lawyers for the victims' families, to the role of special master.

[toolmangler-2009]

Posted by Griking at 08:19 PM : Oct 31, 2007


Anything can be made to burn, you just have to give it the right touch.

[griking]

Well, I''m sure that there are standards that building materials must meet in order to be legally sold for use in buildings. I mean, it makes sense to me that insulation that is generally used in buildings should be flame resistant.

[toolmangler-2009]

This is total nonsense. I am truly sorry for the lives lost in this blaze. But how can the seller of insulation be blamed? Might as well sue ''Smoky the Bear'', I am sure there was wood from his forest in there.
sssshhhheeeeeeesssshhhhh!!!!!!!!

[ksjeff-2009]

This settlement has nothing to do with justice for the families of those killed. Its simply an opportunity to line the pockets of a bunch of greedy, opportunistic lawyers. They create nothing, build nothing and accomplish nothing but driving up the costs of doing business for everybody (and eventually the consumer). Lawyers are the true vampires, sucking the money out of every unfortunate occurrance that they can.

[sevenveils]

This settlement shows how absurd these suits are. This is not justice, it is extortion.
To sue the manufacturer of foam insulation material and the store that sold it is ridiculous. These two parties had nothing to do with grand stupidity of allowing fireworks to be used in such a small venue, the blocked exits and other violations of the fire safety code.