Federal judge agrees to delay civil trial over Key Bridge collapse

(NBC, KYMA) - A federal judge agreed Monday to postpone a civil trial over the 2024 collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge after a flurry of last-minute settlements resolved most of the remaining claims.

U.S. District Judge James Bredar expressed frustration about the timing of last week's settlements, including deals resolving all pending claims over the deaths of six construction workers.

The workers were filling potholes when the container ship Dali lost power and crashed into the bridge in the early morning hours of March 26, 2024.

Virtually all of the unresolved claims are alleging economic losses by businesses and local governments.

None of the remaining parties were asking to start the trial as scheduled this week.

Judge Bredar, who was nominated to the bench by former President Barack Obama, was scheduled to hear attorneys' opening statements Monday for a trial expected to last approximately five weeks.

He postponed the proceedings indefinitely to consider legal arguments that could lead to further settlements and possibly end the litigation without a trial.

Bredar said he was "highly frustrated," but acknowledged that civil cases often settle on the eve of trial.

Details of the settlements with families of the construction workers weren't publicly disclosed.

Less than two weeks ago, Bredar rejected a prior request to delay the trial after the filing of criminal charges against companies that managed the Dali.