Great White singer named in fire lawsuit

PROVIDENCE, R.I., July 23 (UPI) -- Great White singer Jack Russell was among those named in a lawsuit filed by victims of the February 2003 fatal nightclub fire in West Warwick, R.I.

Attorneys for 226 victims of the Station club fire and their families filed a 70-count lawsuit naming 46 defendants Thursday in Providence Superior Court, Billboard.com reported Friday.

The fire, which occurred Feb. 20, 2003, during a Great White performance, killed 100 people and injured approximately 200 others.

In addition to Russell, the lawsuit named Paul Woolnough, the band's former manager; tour manager Dan Biechele; club owners Michael and Jeffrey Derderian; pyrotechnic firm Luna Tech; WJHY-FM, Providence, and its owner Clear Channel Broadcasting; Anheuser-Busch;state and local officials, and others.

The suit alleges negligence in that defendants "knew or should have known" Great White "customarily utilized pyrotechnics" in its show and "had repeatedly, openly and illegally used" them in performances prior to the Station show, Billboard said.

"We knew it was coming. It is unfortunate that it names people associated with the band," said Ed McPherson, attorney for Great White.