A U.S. federal judge has postponed indefinitely the civil trial over the containership Dali’s 2024 destruction of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, after owner Grace Ocean and manager Synergy Marine filed a last-minute motion on May 30 to stay the proceedings. Judge James Bredar ruled on June 1 to delay rather than open arguments, voicing frustration on behalf of the court and the public after more than two years of litigation.

The companies said all but 11 of the 54 initial claims have been settled or voluntarily dismissed, including every wrongful-death claim and the claims from injured survivors. The largest settlement was a record $2.25 billion with the State of Maryland, plus $100 million with the federal government, with cargo claims from Zim and MSC and the road crew’s employer also resolved. The remaining claims are largely economic-loss claims tied to the port closure, along with a City of Baltimore property claim over a damaged water main.

At issue is a 1927 U.S. Supreme Court decision that bars economic-loss recovery from negligence absent physical property damage. Baltimore’s lawyers argued that a potential criminal conviction would prevent the companies from invoking the Limitation of Liability Act; Synergy Marine and one of its port superintendents were previously indicted over the vessel’s operation and accusations of providing false information to investigators, including the NTSB. The judge gave the parties two weeks to file new motions, with full briefing expected by mid-July.

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