A federal judge in Baltimore on Wednesday rejected requests to delay a civil trial stemming from the 2024 Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, saying the case will proceed on schedule. U.S. District Judge James Bredar denied the postponement bid brought by companies involved in the crash of the container ship Dali, even after prosecutors filed criminal charges in the matter.
Bredar said the civil trial will begin as scheduled on June 1, framing that choice as what he called “the most efficient use of judicial resources.” During the hearing, Bredar also told the parties, “We’re ready to go,” according to the Associated Press.
The underlying disaster occurred in the early-morning hours of March 26, 2024, when the Dali lost power and crashed into the Key Bridge. Six construction workers who were on the bridge filling potholes were killed in the collapse, according to the reporting that described the civil claims.
Attorneys for the victims and their families had asked the judge to preserve the civil trial’s timetable, according to the Associated Press account. The defendants, however, sought to postpone the civil case after the criminal case moved forward.
On May 12, U.S. Justice Department prosecutors announced an indictment charging Synergy Marine Pte Ltd., Synergy Maritime Pte Ltd., and Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, described as the Dali’s technical superintendent and an Indian national. The indictment included allegations of conspiracy and other counts prosecutors said relate to misconduct, a failure to immediately inform the U.S. Coast Guard about a hazardous condition, obstructing the National Transportation Safety Board, and making false statements.
In court filings and arguments described in the Associated Press report, company attorneys said witnesses were reluctant to testify in advance of the criminal case being resolved. The judge did not accept that justification, choosing instead to move forward with the civil trial on June 1.
The Associated Press report also described the criminal allegations as including claims that the ship operator intentionally relied on an improper fuel pump and then lied to investigators. Synergy Marine accused prosecutors of improperly treating an accident as a crime.
Parallel to the lawsuits, the report said Maryland announced a $2.25 billion settlement in April between the state of Maryland, Synergy Marine, and Grace Ocean Private Limited, identified as the Singapore-based ship owner. The Associated Press said Grace Ocean had not been charged with crimes related to the collapse, and that the deal did not resolve pending claims by victims’ families.
Victims’ attorney Daniel Rose told the court that the companies had known “day one” that criminal charges were likely to be filed. Rose was quoted as saying, “We’re all prepared (for trial),” and “Let’s proceed.”