Judge Plans Conference Call in Kentucky Bridge Collapse Lawsuit

A federal judge has scheduled a conference call in the ongoing litigation surrounding the collapse of part of a bridge over the Tennessee River in western Kentucky.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Lanny King set the call for Dec. 3 with attorneys for Seattle-based Foss Maritime Company, the state of Kentucky, Bellsouth Telecommunications and claimants in the case.

Multiple lawsuits are pending stemming from the Jan. 26, 2012 wreck involving the Delta Mariner. The ship struck the Eggner’s Ferry Bridge near Aurora, Kentucky and caused a 322-foot section of the span to collapse.

Kentucky’s lawsuit says the ship’s crew ignored warnings from the U.S. Coast Guard that the navigation lights were out. Foss Maritime has denied any wrongdoing in the wreck.

The state spent at least $7 million to reopen the bridge.