Families of Baltimore's Key Bridge collapse victims settle with Dali cargo ship owners, operators

The families of the victims of Baltimore's Key Bridge collapse have settled with the owners and operators of the M/V Dali container ship. The terms of the settlement are not being disclosed. 

Attorneys representing four of the men who died and one survivor of the March 26, 2024 collapse, said the settlement resolves "all the claims against the owners and operators of the M/V Dali."

Six construction workers died after they were knocked into the Patapsco River. A seventh construction worker survived.

Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Attorneys represented the families of Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, José Maynor López, Miguel Luna, and Carlos Daniel Hernandez Estrella, who died during the bridge collapse. 

Julio Cervantes, the only person to survive the collapse, was also included in the settlement.   

"While we are pleased to reach this settlement on behalf of the families of those who lost their lives on March 26 and the only person to survive the fall into the Patapsco River, it is bittersweet because these families won't have an opportunity to experience the seasons of life with their husbands, fathers, brothers and sons," attorney L. Chris Stewart stated.

"Although the fight has been resolved for the petitioners, the battle is not over, as other parties share responsibility for this tragedy, and we look forward to the forthcoming fight for justice." 

The State of Maryland and Dali's owner and operator settled for more than $2 billion this month.

A civil trial is scheduled to begin June 1.

Remembering the victims

We Are CASA, an immigration advocacy group, stated that no monetary settlement will replace the families' loved ones, who were killed while repairing potholes on the bridge.

"While it is very important that some legal claims have been resolved, the pain these families have endured remains," said Ama Frimpong, the Chief of Services at We Are CASA and attorney representing some of the impacted families. "Their focus will continue to be on rebuilding their lives, healing from trauma, supporting one another, and honoring the memory of their loved ones after a tragedy that forever changed their lives." 

Frimpong added, "We Are CASA will continue standing alongside these families as they seek healing, dignity, and lasting security, and as they navigate the difficult road ahead."

Request denied to postpone civil trial

Earlier this month, a judge denied a request by the owner of the Dali, Grace Ocean Private Limited, and its operator, Synergy Marine Private Limited, to postpone next month's civil trial.

The ship's owner and operator had asked that a judge delay the civil trial for at least 90 days to allow the companies to evaluate "whether they can obtain immunity or some other protection for any of Synergy's employee fact witnesses, such that they would agree to travel to the U.S. to attend trial." 

The civil trial will determine if the companies can limit their liability to $44 million. 

The criminal indictment alleges that the operator, Synergy Marine Private Limited, and Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair violated the Ports and Waterways Safety Act by concealing dangerous conditions on the ship, falsifying inspection reports, and evading maritime safety requirements. 

The indictment alleges that the company used the wrong fuel pump, which prevented the ship from regaining power after an outage just before it hit the Key Bridge. The ship had experienced at least four power outages in the hours before the collision, investigators for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found. 

Finding new Key Bridge contractors

In April, the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) ended its contract with Kiewit, after their proposed cost to replace the Key Bridge was much higher than the state anticipated. 

MDTA officials said Kiewit estimated the price of the rebuild to be about $9 billion. The state was looking for a price tag of between $4.3 billion and $5.2 billion.

MDTA is seeking new contractors that will be assigned to four separate parts of the bridge reconstruction. 

Officials said the most costly contractor will be around $3.5 billion to $4 billion to construct the over-the-water section of the bridge. The minimum clearance from the bridge deck to the federal channel will be 230 feet.

The MDTA also projects $300 million to $400 million for the over-the-land portion of the bridges' south side; $200 million to $300 million for the over-the-land section on the north side; and $50 million to $100 million to complete the demolition of the old structure that remains in the water.

Key Bridge rebuild

Initially, state officials anticipated that the Key Bridge would be rebuilt by the fall of 2028. Now that the price tag has increased and the contractor Kiewit was released, the hope is to finish the new bridge by the end of 2030.

The rebuilt bridge will be fully funded by the federal government. Funding was included in a 2024 federal spending bill.   

The new Key Bridge will be more than two miles long with two 12-foot lanes in each direction. The bridge is expected to have a lifespan of 100 years.