Foam supplier says Nightclub owner, Michael Derderian, bought non-fire retardant soundproofing

The Providence journal ^ | 02/28/2003 | By TOM MOONEY

[RicocheT]

Another party to add to the law suit. The search for deep pockets continues. The lawyers always get paid first.

[Dane]

I beleive that the club and band should be held for negligence.

It looks like the band is cutting a plea bargain with the blame going to a person who actually lit the pyro's and who was hired by the band, Great White tour manager, Dan Biechele.

I hope that the club owners get the book thrown at them and I hope that the band also is charged in some way.

IMHO, it looks like the band is trying to make their tour manager, the person holding the bag, when it comes to their responsibility.

[MayflowerMadam]

I'm worried that the club owner will get a pass. Understand the owner is a major TV news personality in that area; being a part of the media will provide him with power which a regular guy wouldn't have. The lead band guy had the guts to stick around that night, face the press, help the victims, etc. The owner was nowhere to be found. My opinion; I could be wrong...

[mommadooo3]

The salesman who sold the foam to the club MAY be sleepin' with da fishies.

Ahem...tin-foil 'off'.

[Dane]

I'm worried that the club owner will get a pass.

I don't think that they will. I think that they are going to get the book thrown at them, IMO.

[Japedo]

DerManouelian said Michael Derderian, co-owner of the club, wrote out a check for a delivery of 25 sheets of the charcoal foam on June 27, 2000. The foam was 2 1/2 inches thick. Each sheet was 37 by 84 inches in diameter. It was made of polyurethane and is generally used for packing.

How'd this ever pass Fire inspection?

[Wolfie]

Assuming the foam was up at the time, the inspector was either incompetent or crooked (or both).

[Revolting cat!]

Since just about all the relevant facts are out and the guilty parties are known, this case will be interesting to watch only for what it reveals about the worlds greatest legal system. And it ain't gonna be pretty, I tell ya!

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The deepest pockets will belong to the manufacturer of the eggcrate foam, therefore they are the ones at fault.

It's the law.

[Cicero]

I assume Chicago has some kind of building code and that it doesn't allow flammable insulation in night clubs.

Of course many cities view building codes as a convenient source of graft for the inspectors.

[Japedo]

IMO,

I don't see how they can hold the Band equally Liable in this.

A) It's passed fire Inspection since 2000, how many times (once, twice a year?) with that up on the walls?

B) GW lawyers state at least 6 bands have used pyros in that club in the last two months. They have some bands on Film to back up this claim.


C) The "owners" aren't cooperating fully, unlike the Band. The Owner also sold tickets at the door to an already sold out show. (business cards he used) He filmed himself, in his own club over crowding.

D) from what I understand The Station had to hire 2 people to unload the bus, Which means they also had to unload the Sparklers.

E) They were in the process of selling the business.

I could go on and on.. but... Most GW could possibly be charged for is not getting a permit. (Dunno if that would be the band itself or the Management of the band, I will have to keep looking for answers on that.)

[Dane]

How'd this ever pass Fire inspection?

First maybe the fire inspector was told misleadingly it was non-flammable and second maybe the fire inspector didn't comprehend that a band would be stupid enough to set a big pyrotechnics show in such a small room.

Also remember the band and club didn't ask for a permit for the pyro's. The fire marshall probably would have nixed that idea in the bud.

[AppyPappy]

DING. An unsafe atmosphere

[JustAnAmerican]

""It's unfortunate," DerManouelian said. "They did not buy fire retardant foam. Yeah, they could have. We sell fire-retardant foam. They bought the wrong kind. In hindsight, they probably didn't think they were going to have a fire."

Sounds like the night club owners are in for a whole bunch of trouble. This little statement by itself would probably not really amount to much except for one thing. The owners have let other bands use Pyrotechnics, so wouldn't you think they would want fire retardant sound proofing?

And the band is also guilty to a degree in my eyes, they could have at least made sure that the surrounding material was fire proof. Not sure about anyone else, but I know if I light any type of fire I want to make sure the area around me is fireproof.

[Dane]

I don't see how they can hold the Band equally Liable in this.

The club for providing a fire trap and the band for setting that fire trap on fire.

Seems pretty equal in the negligence dept. to me.

[SamAdams76]

That's crazy. The manufacturer of the eggcrate foam bears no responsibility at all. They just sell the product. What the purchaser does with it has nothing to do with them.

[Japedo]

First maybe the fire inspector was told misleadingly it was non-flammable and second maybe the fire inspector didn't comprehend that a band would be stupid enough to set a big pyrotechnics show in such a small room.

According to what I read yesterday, it is the FIRE Inspectors Job to hold a flame up to the wall for an x amount of seconds. It is one of the things they are required to do in order for it to pass. I will find you that link....

[Callahan]

Egg crate foam was on the wall. It exists mainly because it is used to pack eggs. The poultry industry, and by extension, all people who eat meat are obviously at fault here. Call John Edwards.

[Dane]

According to what I read yesterday, it is the FIRE Inspectors Job to hold a flame up to the wall for an x amount of seconds. It is one of the things they are required to do in order for it to pass. I will find you that link....

First of all I believe if there is a question then a match has to be held up to the wall and second like I said maybe the club owners told them the foam was not flammable.

All your points are moot anyway because the club and band didn't ask for a permit for pyro's.