The tragic incident resulted in the deaths of six individuals who were working on the bridge at the time.
The court documents, submitted on Monday, accuse the parent company, Grace Ocean Private Ltd., of gross and potentially criminal negligence. The city alleges that the company put an "unseaworthy vessel" into the water on March 26, moments before it collided with a structure supporting the bridge, leading to its collapse, as reported by ABC News.
The city's stance is that the water transportation services company should be held entirely liable for the disaster. The filing states, "For all intents and purposes, Petitioner's negligence caused them to destroy the Key Bridge, and single-handedly destroy the Port of Baltimore, a source of jobs, municipal revenue and no small amount of pride for the city of Baltimore and its residents."
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This legal action comes as the owners of the Dali are attempting to limit their own liability. Earlier this month, Grace Ocean Private Ltd. filed a federal lawsuit seeking to cap the financial payout they could be held accountable for at $43.7 million. This figure is significantly lower than the estimated billions of dollars required to clear the Baltimore Port and construct a new bridge.
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The city's new filing alleges that the Dali continued its departure despite multiple warning signs, eventually losing power just before the collision with the bridge. This latest filing is part of an anticipated lengthy legal battle over who should bear responsibility for the crash.
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Fox News Digital reached out to both the city of Baltimore and Grace Ocean Private Ltd., but no immediate response was received.
On April 15, Mayor Brandon Scott announced that the city would be taking legal steps to "proactively and aggressively" address the Key Bridge collapse and its impact on the city and its residents. He stated, "The tragedy has resulted not only in a devastating loss of life, but significant economic hardship to businesses and employees who rely upon the Port of Baltimore for revenue and wages, and to the City itself."
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Mayor Scott further emphasized the human impact of the tragedy, saying, "This unthinkable tragedy has taken Marylanders from their loved ones, and risked the livelihoods of thousands of Baltimoreans who rely on the Port of Baltimore."
City Solicitor Ebony M. Thompson echoed these sentiments, stating the city's intention to hold the Dali owners accountable for the collapse. She said, "It is time to hold the M/V Dali’s owner, charterer, manager/operator, manufacturer, and others accountable for the City’s substantial and ongoing economic losses arising from this tragedy, as well as for the unimaginable distress they have caused to the City’s residents, businesses, workers, and their families."
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The city will be partnering with trial firm DiCello Levitt and Philadelphia law firm Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky Trial Lawyers to pursue legal action. The Law Department’s Chief of Affirmative Litigation Sara Gross will also represent the city.
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Adam Levitt, co-founder of DiCello Levitt, stated in the April 15 announcement, "We need to hold these entities accountable for the emotional toll and the substantial financial losses that the City of Baltimore and its residents are facing."
The FBI continues to investigate the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, with a specific focus on whether ship personnel were aware of any onboard technical or operational issues before the ship left the Port of Baltimore.
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