Baltimore Says Dali Owners’ Negligence Caused Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse
Nathan Howard/ReutersThe companies that own and operate the cargo ship that destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge last month were negligent and should be held legally liable for the disaster, the City of Baltimore argued in a legal filing Monday.
The Singapore-based firms said in their own filing last month that the March 26 bridge collapse—in which six construction workers were killed—was not “due to any fault, neglect, or want of care” on their part and asked a federal judge to impose a limit on their legal liability. Now lawyers for Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and the City Council have hit back, arguing that the companies should be liable for whatever damages may be awarded in a jury trial.
Grace Ocean, the Dali’s owner, and Synergy Marine, the vessel’s manager, had sought to limit their liability to around $43.7 million—the approximate total value of the vessel and its cargo at the time of the crash after deducting the costs of damages and repair work.