Clear Channel to Pay $22M in R.I. Lawsuit

Clear Channel has come to a tentative settlement agreement for $22 million with the survivors and victims' families in the 2003 fire at the Station nightclub in Providence, Rhode Island that killed 100 and injured some 200 people. That fire happened five years ago next Wednesday, Feb. 20. The fire started when pyrotechnics used by the band Great White ignited a wall behind the stage. Great White guitarist Ty Longley was among those killed. The club owners and Great White's tour manager were later convicted of involuntary manslaughter. Clear Channel became part of the suit on the grounds that it promoted the show when it placed advertisements on WHJY and distributed free tickets. The settlement must still gain approval from all the plaintiffs and the judge overseeing the case. While some defendants have settled, the suit is still pending against others. Following the fire, Rhode Island Gov. Don Carcieri called for emergency inspections of all public buildings similar to the nightclub. Since then, state lawmakers passed tough new fire-safety standards that included stricter rules regarding sprinkler requirements for older buildings.