Attorneys for the families of victims of the Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore, Maryland, and the lone survivor said they’re encouraged by the federal indictment against the company that managed the Dali.Video above: Synergy responds to charges in Key Bridge collapseThey believe the criminal case could also have major implications for the civil trial set to begin next month.The civil trial is currently scheduled to start on June 1. The owners of the Dali are trying to limit their liability using a maritime law that dates back to the Titanic disaster.Now, attorneys for the victims’ families believe the federal indictment could change the direction of their case.Attorneys representing the families said they’re grateful that the Justice Department is moving forward with criminal charges against the company that managed the ship.| DOCUMENT: Read the federal indictmentThey called the allegations serious and accused Synergy of misleading federal investigators through false records and statements provided to the National Transportation Safety Board.The families’ legal team hopes those allegations could strengthen their position in the civil case, where the ship’s owners are seeking to limit how much they can be financially held responsible for.”It is heartbreaking not just for the victims’ families, but for all of America to see what companies are doing behind the scenes,” said Chris Stewart. “If the DOJ wouldn’t have found what was going on and brought these charges, we would have never seen the purposeful destruction of materials, the purposeful hiding of what really caused this tragedy.”Attorneys said it’s still too early to know exactly how the indictment could impact the civil trial, but they expect more answers in the weeks ahead.
Attorneys for the families of victims of the Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore, Maryland, and the lone survivor said they’re encouraged by the federal indictment against the company that managed the Dali.
Video above: Synergy responds to charges in Key Bridge collapse
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They believe the criminal case could also have major implications for the civil trial set to begin next month.
The civil trial is currently scheduled to start on June 1. The owners of the Dali are trying to limit their liability using a maritime law that dates back to the Titanic disaster.
Now, attorneys for the victims’ families believe the federal indictment could change the direction of their case.
Attorneys representing the families said they’re grateful that the Justice Department is moving forward with criminal charges against the company that managed the ship.
| DOCUMENT: Read the federal indictment
They called the allegations serious and accused Synergy of misleading federal investigators through false records and statements provided to the National Transportation Safety Board.
The families’ legal team hopes those allegations could strengthen their position in the civil case, where the ship’s owners are seeking to limit how much they can be financially held responsible for.
“It is heartbreaking not just for the victims’ families, but for all of America to see what companies are doing behind the scenes,” said Chris Stewart. “If the DOJ wouldn’t have found what was going on and brought these charges, we would have never seen the purposeful destruction of materials, the purposeful hiding of what really caused this tragedy.”
Attorneys said it’s still too early to know exactly how the indictment could impact the civil trial, but they expect more answers in the weeks ahead.
