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Report: At least a dozen RI nightclub fire victims, families seeking bankruptcy protection

By Associated Press

2:55 PM EDT, April 19, 2009

As smoke and flames rise, firefighters and rescue workers remove victims from a West Warwick, R.I., The Station nightclub on Feb. 20. The nightclub erupted into flames during a pyrotechnics display at a Great White rock concert. (AP/Greg Sousa-Kent County Daily Times)

WARWICK, R.I. (AP) — A published report says at least a dozen victims and families of those killed in a 2003 Rhode Island nightclub fire have filed for bankruptcy protection while awaiting their shares of a $176 million settlement.

The Providence Journal reports its review of bankruptcy court records in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts shows some victims have lost their homes and vehicles, or were laid off after they recovered from their injuries and returned to work.

One hundred people died in the fire on Feb. 20, 2003, at The Station nightclub in West Warwick. It started when pyrotechnics used by the band Great White ignited soundproofing foam.

A federal magistrate judge last month approved a proposal to distribute the $176 million settlement among more than 300 people who sued over the fire. Lawyers have said payments will range from about $20,000 to several million dollars.