State of Rhode Island Sues 13 Companies Over Washington Bridge

The lawsuit announced Aug. 16 alleges breach of contract, fiduciary duty and negligence

Gov. Dan McKee had pledged to deliver a day of accountability — and he said that moment has come.
Gov. Dan McKee had pledged to deliver a day of accountability — and he said that moment has come.
Ian Donnis/The Public’s Radio
Share
Gov. Dan McKee had pledged to deliver a day of accountability — and he said that moment has come.
Gov. Dan McKee had pledged to deliver a day of accountability — and he said that moment has come.
Ian Donnis/The Public’s Radio
State of Rhode Island Sues 13 Companies Over Washington Bridge
Copy

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha announced on Aug. 16 that the state is suing 13 companies that worked on the Washington Bridge. The suit was filed in an effort “to hold accountable those companies responsible for the near-miss catastrophic closure of the bridge and to recover the significant resources required to rebuild the bridge and compensate the state.”

Neronha said in a statement that a complaint in Providence Superior Court alleges that the companies failed in a timely way to adequately identify worsening structural issues that led to the emergency closing of the bridge in December 2023. The lawsuit includes claims of breach of contract, fiduciary duty and negligence, with claims varying against the defendants.

The companies named in the lawsuit are AECOM Technical Services, Inc.; Aetna Bridge Company; Aries Support Services, Inc.; Barletta Heavy Division, Inc.; Barletta/Aetna I-195 Washington Bridge North Phase 2 JV; Collins Engineers, Inc.; Commonwealth Engineers Consultants, Inc.; Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.; Michael Baker International, Inc.; Prime AE Group, Inc.; Steere Engineering, Inc.; Transystems Corporation; and Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc.

This story was reported by The Public’s Radio. You can read the entire story here.

The war in Iran, and Neronha’s blockbuster report
State leaders say the deal keeps the Rhode Island hospitals open while the Atlanta-based Centurion Foundation attempts a financial turnaround
New England Aquarium observers documented the rare sightings during an aerial survey over waters south of Rhode Island
URI hoops, Providence hockey and JWU basketball headline a surge of winter titles across the Ocean State
February’s historic blizzard disrupted more than 1,500 blood donations, leaving the center with far less than the seven-day supply required to support local hospitals
Backing underscores long-running tensions with Gov. Dan McKee ahead of the September Democratic primary; McKee’s campaign responds by raising opioid concerns