Those Suing Over Nightclub Fire May Not Find Any Deep Pockets

Salt Lake Tribune | March 2, 2003 | AP

[RobFromGa]

Those Suing Over Nightclub Fire May Not Find Any Deep Pockets

An investigator sifts through the ashes of The Station nightclub in West Warwick, R.I., on Saturday. It burned down Feb. 20, killing 97.
(Robert E. Klein/The Associated Press)

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

    PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- As families of the dead and injured struggle with their grief after one of the country's deadliest fires, some are starting to look for compensation. Lawyers say it won't come easily.
    Rhode Island lawyers estimate at least $1 billion worth of lawsuit claims will be filed in the coming months. But they're not as confident that the pockets of those who may be responsible are deep enough to pay.
    "The reality is that, at the end of the day, there's going to be a lot of tears," said Ronald Resmini, a Providence lawyer representing two of the dozens of people injured when fire swept through The Station nightclub Feb. 20. "Probably more tears than money."
    Warwick attorney John Lynch, representing other survivors and families of some of the 97 people killed in the blaze, said it would take several months to get any civil cases ready.
    In the meantime, the state's criminal investigation is under way.
    No charges had been filed as of Saturday, but a grand jury is investigating the blaze that started moments after the '80s rock band Great White began playing. Pyrotechnics set soundproofing material surrounding the stage on fire, and the flames and smoke quickly spread. Fire officials said the building was engulfed within three minutes.
    "The most culpable people seem to be the owners of the bar and the band," said attorney Mark Decof, also representing victims. "But it would appear there is wholly inadequate coverage there. So you have to look elsewhere -- starting with the products involved, the people who supplied them, the people who prepared them and maintained them."
    Civil lawyers could go after the manufacturers of the pyrotechnics or the soundproofing material that it ignited. Concert promoters, even the architects of the building -- constructed in the early 1940s -- are potential defendants, Decof said.
    After a fire in 1977 swept through the Beverly Hills Supper Club in Southgate, Ky., killing 165 people, General Electric paid $10 million to settle claims that it made faulty wiring in the building, though it never admitted liability. Insurance and settlements with companies involved in the building's operation and construction paid out about $50 million.
    Attorneys for the Rhode Island club have said the owners were never told the band would be shooting off pyrotechnics; the band's attorneys have said the club gave them permission.
    Lawyers for several victims said they also would consider suing the town of West Warwick, where the club was located.
    They could make a case that fire officials did not properly inspect the club and that police failed to provide appropriate crowd control. However, getting money from the government could be difficult.
    West Warwick's insurance is covered by the Rhode Island Interlocal Risk Management Trust, a risk pool created by the state's municipalities.
    Tom Dwyer, president and executive director of the trust, said West Warwick's coverage allows for a maximum of $4 million to be paid in the case of a single incident. That $4 million would have to be split among all eligible claimants, he said.
    Under state law, towns are immune from lawsuits unless a lawyer can prove they are responsible for extraordinary wrongdoing.

[RobFromGa]

If the people responsible don't have money, then find rich people who are peripherally involved and make them responsible.

I think that the Federal Govt should step in and give $1.5 million to each person killed. /sarcasm

[Tennessee_Bob]

They need to sue the pyrotechnics manufacturer, and the folks that made the electronics to ignite them. Then maybe the companies that made the drum kit, keyboards, bass and guitars that the bands were using (after all, if they didn't have those, they wouldn't be performing, right?) They should sue the record label, if any. Better yet, sue the general listening public - after all, if they had listened to Great White more often, they wouldn't have had to perform in some little deathtrap nightclub, would they?

[RobFromGa]

I agree. I think they should sue all the people within 10 miles who haven't patronized this nightclub.

If they had just sold more adult beverages and collected more cover charges, the poor owners could have afforded the good foam.

[sam_paine]

I think they should sue NASA for not selling the new insulation foam on the main orbiter tank to the Club, as it might've flaked off before the pyrotechnics could catch it on fire....

[Exeter]

It's called "the deep pocket", and it's unofficially taught at law school. You first find out who has money and figure some way to attach them, however circuitous the route, as a defendant to your complaint so they can be available if the plaintiff wins. I've seen it in action and it's not pretty...

[Chi-townChief]

This differs quite a bit from the E2 nightclub tragedy here in Chicago. The victims' relatives believe that they have struck gold with the help of Ambulance-chaser-extraordinaire Johnny Cochran and, of course, the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

[abner]

It's called "the deep pocket", and it's unofficially taught at law school. You first find out who has money and figure some way to attach them, however circuitous the route, as a defendant to your complaint so they can be available if the plaintiff wins. I've seen it in action and it's not pretty...

And lawyers wonder why they are so often compared to pond scum.

[Republic of Texas]

That would be funny, except it is EXACTLY what will happen.

[RobFromGa]

What's the difference between a lawyer and a carp?

One's a scum sucking scavenger, and the other one's a fish.

[RobFromGa]

How's the Shuttle balloon coming along?

[nutmeg]

bump - read later

[jalisco555]

And lawyers wonder why they are so often compared to pond scum.

And why pond scum is offended by the comparison.

[jalisco555]

Q: Why don't sharks bite lawyers?

A: Professional courtesy.

[abner]

How's the Shuttle balloon coming along?

Our friends in Brasil are moving right along working 12 hour days to get it completed in about 3 weeks. They are even skipping the customary trip to Rio for Carnival.

It is going to be huge! We have 3 bookings for it already. All three bookings came on about Feb 3rd.

Looks like this year we will be the only shuttle flying. >Sigh...<

[Semper Paratus]

What's the difference between a lawyer and a carp?

OK here's mine:
What's the difference between a dead lawyer in the road and a dead dog?
There's brake marks in front of the dog.

[abner]

Well, I didn't mean to turn this into a trash lawyer thread.... But, since I did have at it.

[US admirer]

Does the word "sue" have any relationship to the call to the trough?(for pigs)

[Brian Allen]

<<   "The reality is that, at the end of the day, there's going to be a lot of tears," said ... a Providence lawyer representing two of the dozens of people injured .... >>

The lawyers tears will come after the families of the 97 dead and the scores of surviving injured -- and their lawyers -- get no MONEY!

Carion-eating scum.

[FreePaul]

"The reality is that, at the end of the day, there's going to be a lot of tears," said Ronald Resmini, a Providence lawyer...

Yeah, and a lot of them are going to be from Ronnie and his fellow lawyers when they can't collect a major share of the "billion" dollars that they would like to get.

[RobFromGa]

you can't read this later, it must be read now.