I didn't realize that being party to a civil suit meant being indefinitely detained in a foreign country. /s
Surely you wouldn't expect the US to allow civilian sailors from a domestic ship to be detained in another country with no timeline for repatriation. There would be something done.
Many people have no trouble attending virtual depositions or flying to attend trial. Indefinite detention (again, for a civil suit) is a pretty big ask just so some insurance/city investigators and lawyers can have in-person access.