Key Bridge collapse: Baltimore, victims' families push ahead with lawsuit

BALTIMORE - A looming federal trial over liability in the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse is still on track for June despite Maryland's $2.25 billion settlement with the owner and operator of the cargo ship Dali, with Baltimore, Baltimore County and dozens of other plaintiffs continuing to pursue claims tied to the deadly disaster.

The high-stakes civil case, scheduled to begin June 1, will determine whether ship owner Grace Ocean Private Limited and operator Synergy Marine Private Limited can limit their liability under a centuries-old maritime law that could cap damages at roughly $44 million - far below the billions sought to rebuild the bridge and compensate victims.

In a statement released Tuesday, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said the city's lawsuit against the ship owner and operator remains active and that Baltimore will "continue aggressively pursuing all available remedies to recover the full extent of damages caused by the collapse."

"The collapse disrupted our transportation network, damaged critical public infrastructure, interfered with maritime commerce, harmed our waterways and imposed staggering costs on the city and its people - costs the city continues to bear," Scott said.

Baltimore City Solicitor Ebony Thompson said the city's claims were strengthened by a recent federal criminal indictment alleging Synergy Marine Group, Synergy Maritime and an employee concealed safety problems aboard the Dali before the ship lost power and slammed into the bridge, killing six construction workers.

"The City of Baltimore strongly believes that the law does not permit parties who allegedly engaged in this type of knowing misconduct and concealment to evade accountability," Thompson said. "Baltimore taxpayers should not bear the cost" of the disaster's aftermath.

Baltimore County spokesperson Dakarai Turner declined to comment Wednesday on the county's pending lawsuit or the criminal case.

What to look out for in the next few weeks

Jose Anderson, a litigation professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law, said the indictment could increase pressure on the ship owner and operator to settle remaining civil claims before trial.

"If I were running a lot of ships (in) a lot of places, I would be concerned that this very visible case might affect their business in their country and around the world," Anderson said about Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private Limited. "So, it might be better to get (out) from underneath this controversy as fast as possible."

Anderson said settlements could still be reached in the coming weeks with Baltimore, Baltimore County and victims' families.

Attorney L. Chris Stewart, who represents four victims' families and the lone survivor of the collapse, said Tuesday no settlement has been reached.

"We look forward to the day that the families will be treated correctly, and the case potentially could settle," Stewart said.

There's also no guarantee the lawsuit will move forward as planned on June 1. The newly filed criminal charges could complicate any civil proceedings, Anderson said, delaying the trial date while a ruling is reached on the criminal side.

Neither Grace Ocean Private Limited, Synergy Marine Private Limited nor their attorneys responded to requests for comment Wednesday.

Another case on the horizon

Meanwhile, the Maryland Attorney General's Office told The Baltimore Sun it plans to continue pursuing action against shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries, which the National Transportation Safety Board blamed in a 2025 report for electrical failures aboard the Dali that caused the vessel to lose power before the collision.

"We intend to pursue claims against Hyundai Heavy Industries for its role in the Key Bridge collapse, and that process is underway," Aleithea Warmack, a spokesperson for the Attorney General's Office said in an email Tuesday evening. "We are not able to confirm a filing date at this time."

Hyundai Heavy Industries could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

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This story was originally published May 13, 2026 at 3:15 PM.