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A Blank Rome team representing Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Pte Ltd—the owner and manager, respectively, of the M/V Dali—obtained a significant ruling from the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, dismissing the vast majority of remaining economic loss claims in the civil Limitation of Liability Act proceedings arising from the March 26, 2024, allision of the M/V Dali with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.

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In a 75-page opinion issued on August 25, 2026, U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar granted in substantial part the motion for judgment on the pleadings, applying the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark 1927 decision in Robins Dry Dock &amp; Repair Co. v. Flint to bar recovery of economic losses where claimants lacked a proprietary interest in physically damaged property. The ruling dismissed claims from Baltimore City (except for a claim related to damage to a city-owned water main), Baltimore County (except for claims related to direct physical damage to county-owned waterways and shorelines), private economic loss claimants, and two proposed class actions. The Court also voided a Baltimore City ordinance enacted to enable the city to recover economic losses, finding it exceeded the city’s legislative authority.

The ruling significantly narrows the scope of the remaining civil litigation following the settlement of more than 30 claims, including the wrongful death claims from the families of the six construction workers who died and the State of Maryland’s claim for the destroyed bridge.

For more information, please read the Law360 article: <a href="https://www.law360.com/articles/2517454/md-judge-trims-baltimore-bridge-wreck-damages-claims">Md. Judge Trims Baltimore Bridge Wreck Damages Claims</a> (August 25, 2026, subscription required).

The Blank Rome team was led by <a href="https://www.blankrome.com/people/william-r-bennett/">William "Bill" R. Bennett III</a> and <a href="https://www.blankrome.com/people/thomas-h-belknap/">Thomas H. Belknap Jr.</a>, <a href="https://www.blankrome.com/people/emma-c-jones/">Emma C. Jones</a>, <a href="https://www.blankrome.com/people/zachary-r-cain/">Zachary R. Cain</a>, <a href="https://www.blankrome.com/people/noe-s-hamra/">Noe S. Hamra</a>, <a href="https://www.blankrome.com/people/neil-p-mcmillan/">Neil P. McMillan</a>, and <a href="https://www.blankrome.com/people/holli-b-packer/">Holli B. Packer</a> contributed to the briefing.

Maritime

William R. Bennett III

Thomas H. Belknap Jr.

Emma C. Jones

Zachary R. Cain

Noe S. Hamra

Neil P. McMillan

Holli B. Packer

Maritime – Litigation

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Blank Rome Obtains Landmark Ruling Dismissing Majority of Remaining Claims in M/V Dali / Francis Scott Key Bridge Litigation

Blank Rome Obtains Landmark Ruling Dismissing Majority of Remaining Claims in M/V Dali / Francis Scott Key Bridge Litigation

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Blank Rome Obtains Landmark Ruling Dismissing Majority of Remaining Claims in M/V Dali / Francis Scott Key Bridge Litigation

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