Rhode Island Club Fire: Is the Owner a TV Reporter?

CNN/Projo.com ^

[Recovering_Democrat]

Here is a quote from the above URL:

Owners of the Rhode Island nightclub where a fast-moving fire killed at least 86 people said they did not authorize the band's use of pyrotechnics, which ignited the blaze.

A statement released by the attorney for brothers Michael and Jeffrey Derderian read: "At no time did either owner have prior knowledge that pyrotechnics were going to be used by the band Great White."

Now check this out from the Providence Journal, the newspaper in the capital city of Rhode Island:

Some new faces at Channel 12.

News director Gary Brown announced the station has hired two new reporters, Jeff Derderian and Mark Zinni.
Derderian should be a familiar face to local viewers -- he worked at Channel 6 before he left for a reporting job with Channel 7 in Boston in 1997. (He was back in Providence over the summer, reporting on the Plunder Dome trial for Channel 7.) He'll start at Channel 12, Feb. 17.

The URL for the above quote:
http://www.projo.com/yourlife/content/projo_20030108_peop08.3f85c.html

[Recovering_Democrat]

Can any Rhode Island FREEPers (if there are any) confirm this??

[twyn1]

FOX NEWs reported this earlier today -- Alison Camerato (sp??) knows the guy -- also a new FReeper from RI said it was true

[Monty22]

There were 2 very strange calls into Foxnews in the last 36 hours. One about an hour after the fire, the other around noon today.

Both of them were on a rampage to support the club, and to bash great white. The second caller kept calling (I think) the band "jerks" endlessly. That seemed in really bad taste.

[billorites]

Yes, Jeff Dederian has been in the Boston and Providence markets for some time.

[Dane]

Yes he is the co-owner of the club with his brother and was recently hired as a reporter for WPRI(Fox affiliate) Channel 12.

[WomanofStandard]

This morning FoxCable news was interviewing a local R.I. radio station manager who said the owner of the club is one of his radio station DJ's. He goes by the air name of "Doc" or "The Doctor" and is apparently one of the area's most elegable bacholers.

[Dont Mention the War]

Can any Rhode Island FREEPers (if there are any) confirm this??

Yes. All the RI broadcasting geek sites are talking about this, and the station admitted on-air that it's the same Jeff Derderian.

(I was wondering why it was called "The Station" when it didn't seem to have much of a train theme.)

But it seems to me the evidence thus far shows that the club was fully up to snuff (no pun intended) in terms of meeting regulations. It just passed inspection two months ago, and had four fire exits that were clearly marked. The patrons, unfortunately, did the stupid thing and didn't bother noting where those exits were when they came in (wasn't that pounded into all our brains as teenagers?). They came in the front door, and when they panicked they all started running towards the front door.

[twyn1]

The second caller kept calling (I think) the band "jerks" endlessly

One of the callers (not sure if it was the "jerk" guy) was the owner of a club (Stone Pony) in NJ -- he said he was mad because Great White had set off flashpots and fireworks in his club (last week) without telling them beforehand -- sounds like this club was about the same size -- I know he said it had a low ceiling and that's why they had a club policy of no pyrotechnics

[twyn1]

The patrons, unfortunately, did the stupid thing and didn't bother noting where those exits were when they came in

Might not have helped much anyway -- the RI FReeper who had been in the club said the two back exits were on either side of the stage-- right where the fires were -- only a few people got out of those doors

[Recovering_Democrat]

I just wonder if the owners, if they are tv reporters, will get the same treatment other business owners might get if a tragedy occurs in their establishment.

[proxy_user]

They would seem to have an out, in that this band has a history of sneaking in a fireworks display without club owners' permission.

[OldFriend]

If it can be proven that permission was neither sought or given to have fireworks, then this would certainly NOT be the fault of the club owner.

[twyn1]

Interesting question -- it's kind of like what will happen in the Chicago club situation, now that Jesse Jackson has gotten involved (maybe has ties with the owner and pushed for the club to be opened when the city was holding back ??)

[js1138]

this band has a history of sneaking in a fireworks display without club owners' permission.

If they've done it more than once before, it's part of the act.

[TexKat]

The lead singer doth protest too much. He is surely trying to cya. He has stated that he is in shock. Well if he was in shock how would he know?

[surrey]

The lawsuits that will emerge from this tragedy will be unbelievable. Anyone that had the slightest involvement with this club will be taken to the cleaners. The medical bills for the survivors ,especially those with burns,will be monumental. This band can kiss their future GOODBYE!

[theDentist]

Of course the press will hold back, but not much. With 86+ people confirmed dead they've got a story that has legs. They'll try not to mention Jeff's ownership much, and will use the terms "owners", "management", and such without actual names as much as possible. Sorta like when Liz Walker became a single mom and remained on the air; everyone knew she wasn't married, and when it became a hot potato channels 5 and 7 reported on it without speaking her name and with kid gloves. After all, they are in the media, and therefore deserving of better treatment than "people".

[Catspaw]

It's now up to 95 dead, according to the Governor, and could top over 100.

[mr.pink]

If it can be proven that permission was neither sought or given to have fireworks, then this would certainly NOT be the fault of the club owner.

Unless one could prove the owner had knowledge that the band had used pyros in other clubs...or

The band had played that club before and used pyros.

IMHO, by the time the investigative colonoscopy is over, the club will end up liable even if fair minds wouldn't conclude the tragedy their fault.

Being that the club is probably a 90% cash business, I would also expect their accounting/tax records to be given a good look over as well.

[cinFLA]

The patrons, unfortunately, did the stupid thing and didn't bother noting where those exits were when they came in (wasn't that pounded into all our brains as teenagers?).

I am watching the film. The building is burning and NOONE is doing anything. No one is leaving and NOONE from the club is doing anything. If the owners did not give permission why were they not IMMEDIATELY doing something to put out the fire. Fire Marshall just said the CLUB had to have a permit from the Fire Marshall and another from the town. He just said there were no such permits. It will take some time to sort out but it appears EVERYONE expected fireworks at the show.