Court rulings and official announcements from the U.S. Justice Department

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

Sep 18, 2024, 03:31 PM

The U.S. Justice Department has filed a lawsuit seeking over $100 million against the owner and operator of the Singapore-flagged container ship Dali, which destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore in March. The lawsuit alleges negligence and mismanagement, claiming the bridge collapse was 'entirely avoidable' and resulted from a series of foreseeable errors. The Dali was described as 'jury-rigged' and had known electrical problems before the incident. The collapse caused the deaths of six workers and significant disruption to the region's transportation network. The government aims to recover costs incurred for cleanup and reopening the port, as well as punitive damages for the owner and operator's reckless conduct.