Maryland
State of Maryland considering legal action in the wake of the Key Bridge collapse
BALTIMORE – With the NTSB preliminary report comes several questions about the legal fallout after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
On Wednesday, Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown called on the state board of public works to approve contracting five external law firms to assist in litigation after the collapse. The firms will only be paid contingent on the state winning its case. The funds for that would come from the damages recovered.
“The firms are the right mix of maritime, insurance, conflicts litigation, and other expertise and experience we need to pursue and protect the state’s interests in this critical matter,” Brown said.
The board approved these contracts during a vote Wednesday. The state owned and operated the Key Bridge. The attorney general’s office has not indicated when it will file a claim.
This step comes as several legal fillings have already been sent to federal district court in Baltimore. The city filed a civil claim for damages in April. The Dali owner and operator filed a limitation of liability claim, asking the court to restrict the company’s financial responsibility to the cost of the ship. Separately, the ship’s owner declared general average, asking cargo companies with products on board to chip in for the cost of “voluntary lost cargo”.
While the report provides a clear timeline of events the morning of March 26, it doesn’t answer the question of why the incident occurred.
This will be the key in, what’s shaping up to be, a lengthy legal battle. Sen. Ben Cardin spoke at a press briefing earlier this week, saying this could be a historically large insurance claim.
“Those insurance claims will help to ensure the federal taxpayer gets relief,” Cardin said.
Maritime insurance functions differently than that on land. Large vessels can take out insurance policies from independent insurance brokers, but that can be expensive. Instead, most ships work with a protection and indemnity club, which is a group of vessels that form a mutual assurance organization to provide insurance for large claims. There are 12 leading clubs in the world, and they formed an international group to pool resources for high value claims. Currently, there is $2.1 billion available to support claims in this international group.
This insurance would only be triggered if the ship cannot limit its liability to the value of the vessel, which will be one of the first claims reviewed in court. In order to have a ruling in that case, the court needs to determine why the allision happened. If the court finds that the ship’s owner knew of problems on board, liability will not be limited.
“If it turns out equipment just failed unexpectedly even though the maintenance is up to date or if some ship’s officer simply made a mistake, then that would not be attributable to the owner, and theoretically limitation would be allowed,” Allen Black, maritime attorney at Mills Black LLP., said.
The FBI opened its investigation into the Dali last month. Black says investigators could be looking at criminal charges related to misconduct or neglect of ship officers, also known as the Seafarers Manslaughter statute. Prosecutors would have to prove simple negligence, accusing a member of the crew of neglect, misconduct or inattention to duties, causing the death of the six construction workers who were on the bridge that night.
“I assume that’s exactly what they are looking for is to see if they can find some act of negligence attributable to the crew or the ship’s owner,” Black said.
All cases related to the Key Bridge Collapse need to be filed by September 24 in district court. Then, the court will begin reviewing evidence. This will all begin as the NTSB and Coast Guard safety investigation continues.
BALTIMORE – Severe storms have been plaguing western Maryland this afternoon. They are on the move east and will push into Carroll County near the 6pm hour. These storms have a history of producing winds capable of downing trees. We are also seeing heavy rain and lightning.
Most of the activity will push north and south of the forecast area surrounding Baltimore with the marine layer or stable air mass keeping the severe weather west of the mountain regions.
The warm front associated with the severe weather is bring warm, humid air in overnight. Expect overnight lows in the low 70s with scattered showers and isolated severe storms.
A secondary cold front will bring another chance for an isolated strong storms on Sunday. The day won’t be a washout, there is the possibility of active weather in the afternoon and evening.
The front will bring bright sunny skies for Monday with low humidity. Perfect weather for the afternoon barbecue or last summer activity. Kids getting back to school this week should expect refreshing temperatures… possibly even a little chilly with overnight lows in the 50s.
High pressure will control our weather for the middle of the week. Expect sunny skies and low humidity through Friday. Overnight lows Tuesday and Wednesday will be in the mid 50s, with afternoon highs in the upper 70s. The chance of showers returns late Friday.
Maryland football is back and kicks off its season at home against UConn on Saturday.
The Terps will take on the Huskies for first time since 2013, when Maryland won, 32-21. The Terps are coming off an 8-5 season, in which they won their third straight bowl game, while UConn is coming off a disappointing 3-9 season and looking to play spoiler on the road.
With a victory, Maryland will move its week one winning streak to five games.
The numbers
Maryland: 0-0
UConn: 0-0
All-time series: Maryland leads, 2-1
DraftKings Sportsbook line: Maryland -19.5, O/U 44.5
How to watch and listen
When: Saturday, Aug. 31, 12 p.m. ET
Where: SECU Stadium, College Park, Maryland
TV: Fox Sports 1 — Connor Onion (play-by-play), Mark Helfrich (analyst)
Radio: 105.7 FM (Balt) / 980 AM (DC) – Johnny Holliday (play-by-play), Steve Suter (analyst), LaMont Jordan (sideline)
Streaming: Fox Sports
Catch up before the game
Previewing Maryland football’s season opener against UConn
Predictions for Maryland football’s 2024 season: Top players, bold takes and more
Breaking down every game on Maryland football’s schedule
BALTIMORE— Maryland’s Supreme Court has upheld an appellate court’s decision to reinstate the murder conviction of Adnan Syed, whose case gained national attention in 2014 when it was featured on the first season of the “Serial” podcast.
The ruling says the case should be sent back to a lower court for a new hearing on whether it should be thrown out entirely. The decision reverses a lower court’s ruling that had cleared Syed’s name two years ago.
Syed had served more than 20 years for the 1999 murder of his ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee.
He was freed from prison in September 2022 after Baltimore prosecutors found flaws in the evidence presented at trial and a judge agreed to vacate his conviction.
However, Lee’s relatives appealed the decision, contending they didn’t receive sufficient notice to attend the hearing that set Syed free. In March 2023, the Maryland Appellate Court agreed and reinstated Syed’s conviction and ordered a redo of the hearing.
Syed appealed that ruling, bringing the matter to the Maryland Supreme Court. Friday’s ruling comes 11 months after arguments were made.
Justices found the circuit court violated the rights of Young Lee, Hae Min Lee’s brother.
“In an effort to remedy what they perceived to be an injustice to Mr. Syed, the prosecutor and the Circuit Court worked an injustice against Mr. Lee,” the court said.
Syed will remain free until the next hearing which has not been scheduled. The Supreme Court ordered the Lee family must have sufficient notice of the new hearing and a new judge must preside.
“If there’s actually evidence presented that shows that Adnan Syed should not have been convicted, we would be the first ones to congratulate Adnan Syed and argue he should be a free man,” said David Sanford, the attorney for the Lee family. “That hasn’t happened yet.”
In their dissenting opinions, several justices wrote when the case was vacated, any appeal by Young Lee should’ve been rendered moot. Those justices also argued there aren’t any specific victims’ rights that would require Young Lee be allowed to be present at that 2022 hearing.
Syed’s lawyer Erica Suter said that while they disagree with the ruling, the Lee family’s pain in this isn’t lost on them.
“Wrongful convictions devastate the wrongly accused, their family and the family of the victim,” Suter said. “Reinstating Adnan’s wrongful conviction does not provide justice or closure.”
Rabia Chaudry, Syed’s friend and advocate, went on Instagram Live to affirm that she will do what she can to keep Syed a free man.
“I will never not fight for his freedom and I know there are others, also, in his life who will never not fight for his freedom,” Chaudry said.
Major publishers sue Florida over law that led to book bans
Food costs remain high as Americans hold Labor Day BBQs
Video shows teen driving nearly 140 mph days before fatal crash outside Detroit
Live updates: Alabama football vs. Western Kentucky score, injury report and more
Easiest business class flights to book, United complains about Alaska/Hawaiian and yet another Hyatt acquisition (Saturday Selection)
Arizona Basketball Reportedly Has ‘Moved On’ From Recruitment of Top 20 Player
Cody Rhodes uses Arkansas-Pine Bluff marching band to fuel his WWE title defense
Some artificial dyes could be banned from California schools
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
At least 2 dead as tornadoes hit Alabama, damage homes across Southeast
Trump impersonates Elon Musk talking about rockets: ‘I’m doing a new stainless steel hub’
Oasis fans struggle to secure tickets for band’s reunion tour
Why the U.S. isn't ready for wars of the future, according to experts
'For election purposes': Critics balk at Harris' claim she will 'enforce our laws' at southern border
Brussels, my love? Is France becoming the sick man of Europe?
-
Connecticut1 week agoOxford church provides sanctuary during Sunday's damaging storm
-
Technology1 week agoBreakthrough robo-glove gives you superhuman grip
-
Politics1 week agoClinton lauds Biden as modern-day George Washington and president who 'healed our sick' in DNC speech
-
Politics1 week ago2024 showdown: What happens next in the Kamala Harris-Donald Trump face-off
-
News1 week agoWho Are Kamala Harris’s 1.5 Million New Donors?
-
Politics1 week agoTrump taunted over speculated RFK Jr endorsement: 'Weird as hell'
-
Politics1 week agoVivek Ramaswamy sounds off on potential RFK Jr. role in a Trump administration
-
World6 days agoPortugal coast hit by 5.3 magnitude earthquake