First Station Deal Struck

The legal aftermath of The Station nightclub fire in February 2003 continues to inch toward resolution, with civil suits and a parole hearing the latest to hit the dockets.

Tentative settlement of lawsuits totaling $13.5 million in the deadly conflagration, in which 100 were killed and more than 200 injured, have reportedly been made by lawyers in the case, though defendants with the deepest pockets are not included.

Eight law firms representing most of the victims have reached agreements in principle with a manufacturer and a vendor of pyrotechnics, a foam insulation maker, an alarm company, and the real estate company that leased the West Warwick nightclub building to Jeffrey and Michael Derderian.

The settlement represents maximum payments in the defendants’ insurance policies, and was disclosed in an August 31st U.S. District Court filing requesting a special master be appointed to help distribute the funds.

"This is the absolute preliminary beginning of the process," attorney Eva-Marie Mancuso told the Boston Globe. "It’s by no means full restitution."

If approved by a judge, the settlements would be the first concluded of several lawsuits with scores of defendants stemming from the inferno. The largest defendants, Anheuser-Busch and Clear Channel Communications, were not involved in the settlement, nor are Rhode Island, West Warwick, members of Great White and various foam manufacturers.

Meanwhile, Great White tour manager Dan Biechele faces a parole hearing September 19th, 16 months after being sentenced for his role in the Station blaze.

Many say he has done enough time behind bars and should be released, and consider him far less responsible for the deadly conflagration than the club’s owners Jeffrey and Michael Derderian. They pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter charges last year.

"I think they should not even bother with a hearing – just let Biechele out," said Leland Hoisington, whose daughter, Abbie, died in the blaze. "I just don’t find him as guilty of anything."

The majority of letters sent to Rhode Island’s parole board echo that sentiment. Most of the roughly 20 letters from victims’ relatives express support for Biechele getting parole, board chairwoman Lisa Holley said.

The letters credit Biechele with being the first person to accept responsibility, Holley said, in some cases referring to him as a "scapegoat" and saying he bears only limited culpability for the fire.

What’s especially striking about the overtures to Biechele is the ongoing acrimony clearly shown to other participants in the February 2003 fire.

"In the period following this tragedy, it was Mr. Biechele, alone, who stood up and admitted responsibility for his part in this horrible event," Dave Kane and Joanne O’Neill, parents of one of the fire victims, wrote in a letter they sent to the board and released to reporters.

"He apologized to the families of the victims and made no attempt to mitigate his guilt," the letter said.

Donald Latulippe, whose son died in the fire, said he wouldn’t object if the parole board released Biechele. "He didn’t start this thing on purpose," to cause death, Latulippe said. "It was an accident."