Families Sue Dali Shipowner Over Baltimore Bridge Collapse Deaths

By Diana Novak Jones (Reuters) – The families of the six workers who died in the March collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore filed lawsuits on Friday against the owner and operator of the cargo ship that struck the bridge.

The lawsuits filed in Maryland federal court by the families of Carlos Daniel Hernandez Estrella, Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, Miguel Angel Luna, Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, Maynor Yasir Suazo Sandoval and Jose Mynor Lopez seek unspecified damages from the registered owner of the ship, Grace Ocean Pte Ltd, and its manager, Synergy Marine Group, claiming they negligently allowed the ship to depart Baltimore when they knew it was plagued by mechanical issues.

Julio Cervantes Suarez, another worker who survived the bridge’s collapse, filed a separate lawsuit on Friday against the companies, also seeking unspecified damages for his injuries. Cervantes was in his truck when it fell into the river from the bridge, according to his lawsuit.

Darrell Wilson, a spokesperson for the companies, said in a statement that the filing of the claim was anticipated ahead of a September deadline but declined to comment on its merits.

“We do look forward to our day in court to set the record straight,” Wilson said.

Craig Sico, one of the attorneys representing Maynor Yasir Suazo Sandoval’s family, said the lawsuits were filed as part of a coordinated effort between the victims’ families.

“It’s our belief that the crew of the Dali could foresee this incident taking place,” Sico told Reuters in an interview.

Also read: U.S. Sues DALI Shipowner and Manager for $100 Million Over Baltimore Bridge Collapse

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against the companies over the disaster, accusing the companies of wilfully ignoring or mishandling mechanical problems on the ship. The department’s lawsuit seeks at least $100 million it says the government spent in responding to the disaster and clearing the wreck of the Dali ship and bridge debris from the Port of Baltimore so the waterway could reopen in June.

In the early morning of March 26, the container ship lost power and crashed into a support pylon, sending the bridge into the Patapsco River and killing six people who were working on the span at the time of the crash.

Also read: New Bill Seeks to Hold Foreign Shipowners Accountable for Maritime Accidents

Grace Ocean and Synergy filed a petition on April 1 in Maryland federal court to limit their liability from the crash to the present value of the ship and its cargo, which they estimated to be just over $43 million, according to the petition. Claimants have until Sept. 24 to come forward.

The company that employed the workers who died in the collapse, Brawner Builders, also sued Grace Ocean and Synergy on Wednesday, seeking an unspecified sum in damages for the deaths of its workers and loss of construction vehicles and equipment on the bridge.

Also on Friday, Ace American Insurance filed a lawsuit against Grace Ocean and Synergy, seeking to recoup $350 million it said it paid to the Maryland Transportation Authority after the bridge’s collapse as part of a property insurance policy. Representatives for Ace American, now known as Chubb, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

A spokesperson for Grace Ocean and Synergy did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Chubb lawsuit.

Also read:

Dali Set for Departure Amid Ongoing Legal Battle Over Bridge Collapse

NTSB Preliminary Report on Baltimore Bridge Collapse Released

(Reporting by Diana Novak Jones; Editing by Leigh Jones and Alistair Bell, Reuters)

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2024.

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