A federal judge on Monday agreed to delay civil court proceedings regarding the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore following a series of recent settlements that resolved the majority of outstanding claims.
U.S. District Judge James Bredar voiced his displeasure with the timing of last week’s settlement agreements, which included resolutions for all outstanding wrongful death claims involving six construction workers. The workers had been repairing potholes when the container vessel Dali experienced power failure and struck the bridge during early morning hours on March 26, 2024.
Nearly all remaining claims involve businesses and local governments seeking compensation for economic damages. None of the parties still involved requested to proceed with the trial as originally planned for this week.
Bredar, appointed to his position by Democratic President Barack Obama, had been set to hear opening arguments Monday for proceedings anticipated to run about five weeks. He delayed the case indefinitely while considering legal arguments that might result in additional settlements and potentially conclude the litigation without trial.
The judge stated he was “highly frustrated,” while recognizing that civil lawsuits frequently reach settlements just before trial begins.
“It’s not directed at just one side or another. It takes two to tango,” Bredar said. “I’m frustrated on behalf of the public (and) the court.”
Settlement terms with the construction workers’ families were not made public.
Under two weeks earlier, Bredar had denied a previous motion to postpone the trial following criminal charges filed against companies responsible for managing the Dali.
On May 12, Justice Department prosecutors revealed indictments against Singapore-based Synergy Marine Pte Ltd. and Chennai, India-based Synergy Maritime Pte Ltd.
The vessel’s operator and its technical superintendent face charges including conspiracy, misconduct causing death, failure to promptly notify the U.S. Coast Guard of dangerous conditions, obstructing the National Transportation Safety Board and providing false statements.
The criminal charges allege the ship operator deliberately used an inappropriate fuel pump and subsequently misled investigators about it.
Synergy Marine criticized prosecutors for inappropriately treating an accident as criminal conduct and stated it would “vigorously” fight the indictment’s “inaccurate” claims.
“This was a maritime casualty that should be assessed through the full factual, technical and regulatory record, rather than through selective mischaracterizations in a criminal indictment,” the company said in a statement last month.
In April, Maryland state officials, Synergy Marine and Grace Ocean Private Limited, the Singapore-based vessel owner, announced a $2.25 billion settlement agreement. Grace Ocean has not faced criminal charges related to the collapse.
Among those with unresolved claims is the city of Baltimore, which seeks economic damages attributed to the bridge’s destruction. The city joined the companies in requesting trial postponement.
