Lawyers seek to question Station nightclub owners

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Lawyers for the victims of the Station nightclub fire are asking a federal judge to lift an order that bars them from questioning the owners of the club.

The 2004 order prohibited the plaintiffs from questioning Jeffrey and Michael Derderian because at the time they were still facing manslaughter charges in connection with the blaze that killed 100 people.

In a motion filed with the court, lawyers said the brothers are unlikely to face further state or federal criminal charges, so they should be allowed to take sworn testimony from them in a civil lawsuit.

Michael Derderian is scheduled to be released from prison in October 2009. Jeffrey Derderian was spared a prison sentence and has completed 500 hours of community service.

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