Families of victims and a survivor of a bridge collapse in Maryland filed claims for wrongful death and punitive damages against the owner and operator of a cargo ship that crashed into the bridge, killing six construction workers. The families seek to hold those responsible accountable and prevent similar tragedies. The ship’s owner and operator had petitioned to limit their financial liability, prompting backlash from victims’ attorneys and the city of Baltimore, which also filed a claim against the companies. The Justice Department joined in, seeking over $100 million from the companies to cover the costs of responding to the collapse. The attorneys for the victims argue that the ship had a history of dangerous issues that were ignored for profit, leading to the tragedy. The survivor of the collapse described the devastating moment when the bridge crumbled, resulting in the loss of six lives. The attorneys are seeking a trial by jury and unspecified damages. The collapse shut down the critically important Baltimore Port for months and it is expected to take years and billions of dollars to repair the bridge. The attorneys and victims’ families are determined to seek justice and ensure that similar accidents do not happen in the future.
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