Legal Storm Brews Over Baltimore Bridge Collapse

Crew members from the cargo ship Dali are allowed to return home under conditions as legal investigations intensify around the deadly collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge. The agreement requires them to be available for depositions to determine responsibility for the costly disaster.

Crew members from the cargo ship Dali are set to return home soon under an agreement sanctioning their departure amid intensified legal investigations into the deadly collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge. This ruling follows appeals by attorneys to initially prevent crew members, all from India or Sri Lanka, from leaving the U.S.

Under the agreement confirmed by U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar, the crew is allowed to return but must be available for depositions connected to civil litigation determining liability for the bridge's collapse. This disaster, which resulted in the death of six construction workers and temporarily halted maritime traffic, is anticipated to become one of the most expensive maritime cases in history.

As legal complexities unravel, concerns about enforcing the return of foreign crew members for depositions linger. Lawrence B. Brennan, a seasoned admiralty lawyer, emphasized the importance of concluding depositions promptly to avoid long-term stalling of the case.

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