Families sue N. Idaho tribe in casino deaths

The families of two men killed in June 2006 by a fire in a storage container that held fireworks have filed suit against the Coeur d'Alene Tribe and others, seeking more than $1.8 million.

Donald S. Hanson, 55, of Fairfield, Wash., and Richard E. Stokes, 49, of Rockford, Wash., died when a fire ignited in a metal shipping container used for storage behind the Coeur d'Alene Casino in northern Idaho.

The contents of the container included commercial fireworks and propane. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated and reported that the fire was an accident, saying that propane leaked and was ignited, causing a flash fire. Investigators were unable to determine what sparked the blaze.

In the lawsuit filed Monday in 1st District Court, Jessica Hanson, the daughter of Donald Hanson, is seeking $950,000 in special damages, along with general damages of more than $10,000 from the defendants. Clayton Stokes and Brad Moore, Richard Stokes' sons, are seeking $875,000 in special damages and general damages of more than $10,000.

Ned Cannon, an attorney representing the families, said the amount in the lawsuit represents the economic losses resulting to the families from the men's deaths, as calculated by William Conerly, an economist in Lake Oswego, Ore.

"It was a tragic event," Cannon told The Coeur d'Alene Press. "The chance of these families receiving a fair amount is very good."

The lawsuit, also filed in tribal court, alleges 10 instances of negligence, including improper storage and failing to warn employees about storing propane and fireworks together.

The tribe did not put on fireworks displays in 2006 or 2007, and has also changed procedures for storing propane.

"The Tribe feels deeply for the loss of the families," the tribe said in a statement. "The Tribe is committed to bringing closure to the claim in a manner that hopefully all parties can agree upon."

The tribe noted that it paid life insurance claims to the beneficiaries of Hanson and Stokes, and covered funeral and burial expenses.

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Information from: Coeur d'Alene Press, http://www.cdapress.com