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Members of the rock band Great White, whose pyrotechnics
sparked a nightclub fire that killed 100 people and injured more than 200
others five years ago, have agreed to pay $1 million to survivors and victims’
relatives, according to court papers filed on Tuesday.
The deadly incident took place in February 2003 at The
Station nightclub in West Warwick and even one
band member, guitarist Ty Longley, was killed in the fire.
So far, approximately $175 million has been offered by dozens
of defendants in order to settle the lawsuits over the blaze, which represents
the fourth-deadliest nightclub fire in American history, The Associated Press
reported.
Great White members do not admit any misconduct as part of
the settlement, which calls for the endorsement of the more than 300 people
suing, among other conditions.
The blaze started when Great White’s tour manager, Daniel
Biechele, shot off streams of pyrotechnics at the beginning of the gig. In addition
to this, the sparks from the pyrotechnics ignited the low-cost packaging foam
the club’s owners had used as soundproofing around the stage.
In spite of the fact that the band members were never
charged, Daniel Biechele pleaded guilty two years ago to 100 counts of
involuntary manslaughter but was nevertheless paroled in March after serving
less than half of his four-year jail sentence.
The settlement covers Biechele, lead singer Jack Russell, the
record label, manager, management company, as well as other members of the
group at the time of the fire.
Image Credit: Matt Becker
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