Tulane Law Alumni Lead in Francis Scott Key Bridge Settlement

A team of Tulane Law School graduates played key roles in securing what is believed to be the largest single maritime property damage settlement in U.S. history, underscoring Tulane Law’s longstanding reputation as one of the nation’s premier training grounds for maritime lawyers.

The settlement arose from the catastrophic March 26, 2024, crash of the M/V DALI into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, a disaster that killed six construction workers, shut down port operations, and caused sweeping economic and environmental harm throughout Maryland.

Among the attorneys helping lead the effort on behalf of the State of Maryland were Tulane Law alumnus and trial lawyer R. Keith Jarrett (L’85), Raymond T. Waid (L’07), Elizabeth “Libby” McIntosh (L’15), and Jessie Shifalo (L’22), all members of the maritime team at Liskow, and Andrew Homer (L’08) of the firm Kelley Drye & Warren. 

“Tulane’s maritime law program has long prepared students not just to understand maritime law academically, but to step into the most sophisticated, high-stakes maritime matters in the world,” said Waid, who was on the legal team and also serves as a Tulane Law adjunct professor in maritime law. “What makes Tulane special is the combination of rigorous legal training, practical exposure, and a deep connection to the maritime industry itself. Our graduates are ready from day one to handle complex cases with national and international significance.”

The litigation involved extraordinarily complex questions of maritime law, infrastructure damage, environmental harm, insurance coverage, and economic loss — precisely the type of high-stakes, international legal work for which Tulane Law’s maritime program is known worldwide. 

For generations, Tulane Law has occupied a unique place in American legal education through its internationally respected maritime law curriculum. Located in one of the nation’s most important port cities and energy hubs, the law school has long prepared students to handle sophisticated admiralty and maritime disputes involving global shipping, offshore energy, international commerce, environmental issues, and catastrophic marine casualties.

The work performed by the Tulane alumni in the Francis Scott Key Bridge matter reflects that tradition of practical preparation and subject-matter depth, said Waid.

Led by Liskow maritime shareholder David L. Reisman and Jarrett, the legal team represented the State of Maryland, the Maryland Attorney General, and multiple state agencies in claims against Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Pte Ltd., the owner and manager of the M/V DALI.

The State sought damages related to the destruction of the bridge, environmental impacts to the Patapsco River, lost revenues, and broader economic losses suffered by Maryland residents and businesses.

“We are honored to have represented the State of Maryland in this complex dispute,” Reisman said in a recent statement announcing the settlement. “We hope this settlement brings not just financial resolution, but also a measure of peace, closure, and the necessary resources for Maryland and its residents to rebuild.”

The case attracted international attention not only because of the scale of the disaster, but also because of the legal sophistication required to resolve claims arising from one of the most consequential maritime casualties in recent memory.

Tulane Law graduates have long been leaders in maritime practice, serving at top law firms, shipping companies, energy companies, insurers, and government agencies around the world. The involvement of multiple alumni in this historic settlement demonstrates the continuing strength and influence of Tulane’s maritime law program and its ability to prepare graduates for the most demanding legal challenges in the field.

And more alumni continue working on other claims stemming from the incident, as the Limitation of Liability case makes it way to trial in the Baltimore federal court on June 1.