No one who lost a loved one or suffered injuries in the Station nightclub fire stands to make as much money as some of the lawyers who filed lawsuits in their behalf. Lawyers who represent the fire victims are slated to make almost $59 million from the $176 million that’s been offered to settle the personal-injury suits now pending in U.S. District Court, according to a newly filed report by a court-appointed special master. The report, filed by Providence lawyer William A. Poore, says that the plaintiffs’ attorneys charged a one-third contingency fee in agreeing to take on the cases, and to date have spent more than $1.2 million of their own money fronting the costs of the sprawling litigation.

Poore, who was appointed by Senior Judge Ronald R. Lagueux to review proposed settlements to children who will receive money from the lawsuits, called the fee arrangement fair given the amount of work involved. He also pronounced as equitable all of the proposed settlements that are earmarked for the minors who lost a parent in the Feb. 20, 2003, fire or who have a parent who was injured in the blaze.

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