Judge keeps Baltimore bridge civil trial on track despite criminal charges
A federal judge decided on Wednesday to keep the June 1 start date for the civil trial litigating a container ship’s collision with the Francis Scott Key Bridge over two years ago in Baltimore.
TL;DR
- A federal judge has set June 1 as the start date for the civil trial regarding the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.
- The trial will proceed despite recent criminal charges filed against the ship's owner, operator, and an Indian national.
- The judge denied requests to postpone the civil trial or to let the criminal case take precedence.
- The civil trial will focus on the ship owner's potential liability limits.
- Lawyers for victims' families urged the judge to keep the trial on schedule.
- Attorneys for the companies argued that delaying the trial would allow witnesses to testify without fear of prosecution.
- Employees of the companies fear traveling to the U.S. due to potential detention, similar to the indefinitely held crew members.
- Maryland recently settled its claims against the ship's owner and operator for $2.25 billion.