DaneyDuke
02-20-2008, 05:38 AM
The Station West Warwick Rhode Island
February 20th 2003
Five years ago a little after 11pm, the fourth deadliest night club in United States history happened. Started by a band’s pyrotechnics being set off, as they began their first song. The band was not aware that the night club was using flammable soundproofing foam. The night club did not have a sprinkler system installed. The club had been inspected two months before the fire. No one got a permit for the pyrotechnics. The club said they had not been told, a band member claimed the club had been informed.
In twenty seconds, the lives over 400 people in that building changed.
96 died that night, 4 others in the hospital and over 200 people injured.
Children who lost one or both parents.
December 9th 2003
Club owners & brothers – Michael & Jeffery Derderian and the band’s former manager Daniel Biechele were charged with 200 counts of manslaughter each -criminal negiligence manslaughter and misdemeanor manslaughter. The three plead not guilty. The Derderians were also fined 1.07 million dollars for not having employee workers compensation insurance.
November 14th 2005
Lawyers tried to get all charges dropped for the Derderians. A company saleperson fax... That said American Foam Corp’s policy was not to tell customers about product flammablity or other hazards.
February 7th 2006
Daniel Biechele plead guilty to 100 counts in a plea baragin, instead of trial that was to start on May 1st 2006.
May 10th 2006
Daniel Biechele sentenced to 15 years in prison – 11 suspended and 4 to serve. And 3 years probation.
September 19th 2007
Rhode Island parole board announced Daniel Biechele would be released March 2008.
September 21st 2006
The Derderians changed their plea from not guilty to no contest.
Michael Derderian sentenced to 15 years in prison – 11 suspended and 4 to serve. And 3 years probation.
Jeffery Derderian sentenced to 10 years in prison – 10 years suspended, 3 years probation and 500 hours community service.
January 2008
Rhode Island parole board announced Michael Derderian will be released in September 2009.
February 2008
Providence television station WPRI made an out of court settlement for 30 million dollars. It is the largest law suit amount to be awarded so far and there are still law suits pending from survivors and victims families. The Station owner Jeffery Derderian was a reporter for WPRI and was doing a story about night club safety. WPRI camera man Brian Butler captured the fire on tape. He was also accused in a federal suit of blocking an exit while filming.
Clear Channel Broadcast made a tentative settlement for $22 million dollars. They owned WHJY-FM, rock station that promoted the Great White concert.
Those who lost hearing or vision, can no longer enjoy listening to music or reading a book. Some injured survivors still face life time medical treatement and or surguries.
Feburary 17th
The Station Fire Memorial Foundation unveiled plans for a permanent memorial at a ceremony to survivors, families and friends of those who died. The Foundation would like to build it where The Station, the land is tied up in lawsuits at this time. Make shift memorials for the last five years have marked where the nightclub was.
http://www.angelsofrhodeisland.com/
http://www.stationfirememorialfoundation.org/index.htm -
Station Fire Memorial Foundation “We will remember”
February 20th 2003
Five years ago a little after 11pm, the fourth deadliest night club in United States history happened. Started by a band’s pyrotechnics being set off, as they began their first song. The band was not aware that the night club was using flammable soundproofing foam. The night club did not have a sprinkler system installed. The club had been inspected two months before the fire. No one got a permit for the pyrotechnics. The club said they had not been told, a band member claimed the club had been informed.
In twenty seconds, the lives over 400 people in that building changed.
96 died that night, 4 others in the hospital and over 200 people injured.
Children who lost one or both parents.
December 9th 2003
Club owners & brothers – Michael & Jeffery Derderian and the band’s former manager Daniel Biechele were charged with 200 counts of manslaughter each -criminal negiligence manslaughter and misdemeanor manslaughter. The three plead not guilty. The Derderians were also fined 1.07 million dollars for not having employee workers compensation insurance.
November 14th 2005
Lawyers tried to get all charges dropped for the Derderians. A company saleperson fax... That said American Foam Corp’s policy was not to tell customers about product flammablity or other hazards.
February 7th 2006
Daniel Biechele plead guilty to 100 counts in a plea baragin, instead of trial that was to start on May 1st 2006.
May 10th 2006
Daniel Biechele sentenced to 15 years in prison – 11 suspended and 4 to serve. And 3 years probation.
September 19th 2007
Rhode Island parole board announced Daniel Biechele would be released March 2008.
September 21st 2006
The Derderians changed their plea from not guilty to no contest.
Michael Derderian sentenced to 15 years in prison – 11 suspended and 4 to serve. And 3 years probation.
Jeffery Derderian sentenced to 10 years in prison – 10 years suspended, 3 years probation and 500 hours community service.
January 2008
Rhode Island parole board announced Michael Derderian will be released in September 2009.
February 2008
Providence television station WPRI made an out of court settlement for 30 million dollars. It is the largest law suit amount to be awarded so far and there are still law suits pending from survivors and victims families. The Station owner Jeffery Derderian was a reporter for WPRI and was doing a story about night club safety. WPRI camera man Brian Butler captured the fire on tape. He was also accused in a federal suit of blocking an exit while filming.
Clear Channel Broadcast made a tentative settlement for $22 million dollars. They owned WHJY-FM, rock station that promoted the Great White concert.
Those who lost hearing or vision, can no longer enjoy listening to music or reading a book. Some injured survivors still face life time medical treatement and or surguries.
Feburary 17th
The Station Fire Memorial Foundation unveiled plans for a permanent memorial at a ceremony to survivors, families and friends of those who died. The Foundation would like to build it where The Station, the land is tied up in lawsuits at this time. Make shift memorials for the last five years have marked where the nightclub was.
http://www.angelsofrhodeisland.com/
http://www.stationfirememorialfoundation.org/index.htm -
Station Fire Memorial Foundation “We will remember”