Work Rrom Home

Families of the construction workers who died in the March collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge announced on Tuesday they’re filing a lawsuit against the owner of the cargo ship that crashed into the bridge.Video above: Wife remembers husband killed in Key Bridge collapse in her own wordsThe three families are speaking out for the first time at a news conference Tuesday afternoon hosted by national Latino advocacy organization CASA to seek justice and share plans to hold the ship company accountable for the deaths of their loved ones.”It was a long an agonizing night for the families, including the three families who are present right here today, as they waited for the news of their loved ones — most who never returned home,” said Gustavo Torres, CASA’s executive director. “No financial loss can compare to the loss of human life … no legal loophole should ever be able to erase the value of a human life.”The Dali container ship lost power before the March 26 collision and collapse of the Key Bridge that killed six highway construction workers, according to an update from the National Transportation Safety Board released in June.”Based on the preliminary investigation by the NTSB, the ship involved in the disaster had lost power several times before even leaving port, and then just two hours after leaving the Baltimore harbor, it lost power again several times over. We have so many questions of that night. What followed was nothing short of devastation,” Torres said.The six construction workers who died were Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, Maynor Yasir Suazo-Sandoval, Carlos Daniel Hernndez Estrella, Miguel Angel Luna Gonzalez and Jos Mynor Lpez. All are remembered as beloved members of their community who were devoted to their families.The families announced a claim to be filed by public interest and plaintiff-side appellate firm Gupta Wessler LLP.”We are here today because we seek truth, we seek justice, and nothing should move faster than the pursuit of truth and justice in the face of such an unimaginable tragedy,” Torres said.Video below: Watch the families’ news conference in its entiretyIn April, the companies linked to the Dali filed a petition in court for liability protection.”Not even a week after the bridge fell, Grace Ocean Private filed a court petition to limit the legal liability for the disaster. As if that were not enough, they went further and hired a federal lobby firm working behind closed doors to rewrite the very law designated to protect the vulnerable in trying to reduce the liability and responsibility,” Torres said. “Grace Ocean Private has chosen the path of impunity of the path of justice, driven by profit and self-interest. Their action seeks to erase accountability they owe to these families, to these men whose lives were stolen. But we will not let that happen.”Torres said the families plan to file its court notice by a Sept. 24 deadline to file claims.”We will seek justice in court,” Torres said.The Associated Press reported on April 15 that the FBI started a criminal investigation into whether federal laws were followed. The same day, the city of Baltimore launched “legal action to hold the wrongdoers responsible.”The six construction workers were described as Latin American immigrants, most of whom had lived in the United States for years.”Our hearts break for (the victims) — six essential workers who were simply doing their jobs, six men who came to this country with dreams of a better life, better future,” Torres said.El Salvadoran-native Miguel Luna is described as a husband and father who worked in construction for Brawner Builders. His wife, Maria del Carmen Castelln, spoke about her husband of more than 14 years and their dreams.”My best friend, my companion, my husband was missing. Miguel was not just an incredible husband, he was a father of five, he was a grandfather and he was a son,” Castelln said. “That day, a wound was opened in my heart that will never heal, something that I do not wish to anyone.”Residents of Glen Burnie, he and his wife planned on expanding Castelln’s food truck business to a brick-and-mortar restaurant. They visited a commercial space for their business expansion the day before his death.In addition to the lawsuit, it was announced that the families are calling for policy changes to protect construction workers, who are often immigrants.”We should be able to live in a world where our loved ones come home safe and we do not have the threat of losing them to dangerous work,” Castelln said. “We honor our loved ones through this lawsuit, and we honor our loved ones through demanding systemic change that will bring about dignity and justice for immigrants and essential workers because they, too, deserve it in this country.”Torres said they are calling for temporary protective status for immigrant essential workers.