Workers’ Families, Other Parties Settle Baltimore Bridge Tragedy Claims

Just days before the civil trial on claims against the owner and operator of the cargo ship Dali was to begin, Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine settled wrongful death suits with the families of the six construction workers killed when the ship crashed into Baltimore’s Key Bridge.

Court documents show those settlements are among more than 30 settlements that have been reached as of May 29 in the massive litigation over damages for the bridge collapse. The settlements include reimbursements for workers’ compensation payments and cargo losses.

Details or amounts of the wrongful death settlements and most other agreements have not been disclosed.

The six men working on the bridge were killed when the Dali experienced two power outages and crashed into the bridge, causing it to collapse and the workers to fall into the Patapsco River.

Wrongful death settlements were reached with the families and estates of Carlos Daniel Hernandez Estrella, Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, Miguel Angel Luna, Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, Maynor Suazo Sandoval, and José Mynor López.

A settlement was also reached in the personal injury claim by Julio Cervantes Suarez, a bridge worker who plunged into the river and was rescued.

In light of the settlements, Justice James K. Bredar has been asked to postpone the civil trial that was scheduled to start today. Bredar indicated that motion would be heard this morning. He previously denied a request by Synergy to delay the trial so that it could focus on criminal charges related to the bridge tragedy brought against it by the U.S. Department of Justice.

The civil trial is to determine the liability of Grace Ocean and Synergy, both of which have invoked the Limitation of Liability Act of 1851 to limit their liability to the current value of the ship, about $44 million. However, they have far exceeded that limit in settlements of $2.5 billion with the state of Maryland last month and $102 million with the federal government in 2024.

The law firm representing the estates of the deceased workers called the settlements “bittersweet.”

“While we are pleased to reach this settlement on behalf of the families of those who lost their lives March 26 and the only person to survive a 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,” said L. Chris Stewart of Stewart Miller Simmons.

There have been seven settlements with Brawner Builders and its insurer Zurich American Insurance for reimbursements of workers’ compensation payments made to the Brawner employees killed and injured in the tragedy, according to a May 29 filing.

Ama Frimpong, an attorney with the support organization We Are CASA who represented some of the deceased workers’ families, welcomed the legal settlements while noting that they do not replace loved ones lost to this tragedy.

“While it is very important that some legal claims have been resolved, the pain these families have endured remains. 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 said in a statement.

Stewart noted that not all the legal battles are over. “Although the fight has been resolved for the petitioners, the battle is not over as there are other parties that share responsibility for this tragedy and we look forward to the forthcoming fight for justice,” he stated.

Among the parties yet to settle are the city and county of Baltimore over their claims of public economic damages. The builder of the Dali cargo ship, Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), is also facing litigation over its role in the bridge collapse.

HHI and Baltimore city officials welcomed the U.S. government’s bringing of criminal charges against Synergy, claiming such charges support their claims that the operator is partly responsible for the tragedy and that the charges are consistent with findings of the investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

The NTSB concluded a loose wire was to blame for power outages that eventually led to the allision. HHI maintains the loose wire should have been detected through regular maintenance and is not related to the original design of the ship built more than 10 years ago.

Synergy has disavowed responsibility for the wire. Synergy and the ship’s owner Grace Ocean have sued HHI, alleging that its “defectively designed” switchboard led to the power loss and subsequent collision.

Baltimore officials have argued that the city suffered “substantial direct harm” from the collapse and its aftermath, including damage to transportation infrastructure, interruption of commerce and port operations, emergency response expenditures, environmental and navigational impacts to the Patapsco River, and damage affecting public systems and infrastructure connected to the bridge corridor and surrounding areas.

The city has criticized what is maintains is the attempt of the ship owner and operator to “shift the costs” of alleged wrongdoing onto Baltimore residents and taxpayers.

According to court documents, in addition to Baltimore’s claims, there are about 10 other claims unsettled. They include claims for private economic damages by energy, export, manufacturing, construction services, technology, sugar, molasses and publishing firms along with related insurers including Markel, Liberty Mutual, QBE, AXA XL, Evanston and Canopius.

Top photo: A memorial site to honor the construction workers who lost their lives in the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge sits on the side of the road near the blockade to Fort Armistead Park, in Baltimore, Saturday, April 6, 2024. Roberto Marquez, an artist from Dallas, painted a mural in their honor as well as painted their names on several crosses dotting the perimeter of flowers, candles and other items of remembrance. Members of the community honored the victims through prayer and song. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner via AP)