DOJ Sues Ship Owner for $100M Over Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse, Six Deaths

Sep 18, 2024, 03:40 PM

The U.S. Justice Department has filed a lawsuit seeking over $100 million in damages from the owner and operator of the container ship Dali, which struck and destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore in March. The lawsuit accuses the ship's owner and operator of negligence and mismanagement, alleging that the Dali was 'jury-rigged' and unseaworthy. The incident, which resulted in the deaths of six workers and significant disruption to the region's transportation network, has been described by the DOJ as 'entirely avoidable.' The federal government aims to recoup costs associated with the cleanup and reopening of the port, as well as punitive damages for the reckless conduct of the ship's owner and operator.