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PROVIDENCE, R.I., March 5 (UPI) -- Their lawyer pleaded with a judge to quickly approve a plan to distribute $176 million to the families and victims of a deadly Rhode Island nightclub fire.
"Time is of the essence to our clients," Mark Mandell told U.S. Magistrate Judge David Martin.
"Our clients are in need," he said. "We are very much concerned for them."
Mandell spoke on behalf of all the plaintiffs in the case stemming from the Feb. 20, 2003, Station nightclub fire in West Warwick, R.I.
One hundred people died in the inferno, the fourth-deadliest nightclub fire in U.S. history, and more than 200 were injured.
The blaze erupted about 11:08 p.m. when pyrotechnics from headlining band Great White's opening song ignited the building's flammable soundproofing foam.
Mandell also asked Martin to approve the appointment of an independent verification expert to review documents submitted by victims and their families.
The expert would make sure the victims' damage-claim information is accurate, The Providence (R.I.) Journal-Bulletin reported.
And he asked the judge to appoint a Massachusetts lawyer to administer a trust fund for the settlement proceeds.
Martin said he would give defendants 24 hours to request a hearing on Mandell's motions, but said he was inclined to rule without a hearing since no written objections to any of the proposals had been filed.
He scheduled another hearing for next Thursday.
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