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NY Crane Owner to be Charged in 2008 Crane Accident

By Paul Napoli

March 5, 2010

The owner of a crane company is expected to be charged with manslaughter in the deaths of two construction workers killed in a 2008 when a crane collapsed, reported The New York Daily News. Read the story in its entirety here: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2010/03/05/2010-03-05_new_york_crane_owner_james_lomma_charged_with_manslaughter_in_2008_upper_east_si.html

On May 30, 2008, a 30-ton crane collapsed onto E. 91st Street in the Upper East Side, killing crane operator Donald Leo, 30, and worker Ramaden Kurtah, 27.

An investigation into the accident, found that James Lomma, the owner of New York Crane and Equipment Co., knew the shoddy repair weld on the crane that collapsed was questionable. A year before the collapse, workers on a different job site noticed a crack in the crane. Bethany Klein, head of the Building Department's cranes & derricks unit, revoked the crane's operating papers, but the Buildings Department cleared the crane and it was erected at 91st Street. After the crane collapse, city inspector Michael Carbone who approved the crane was suspended for neglect of duty.

On March 15, 2008, another New York Crane and Equipment Co. crane collapsed on E. 51st Street, killing seven people. In July 2008, building inspector, Edward Marquette was indicted on charges of falsifying crane inspection reports, including the crane E. 51st Street.

New York Crane and Equipment Co. is the largest construction crane company in New York, NY, with 11 of 25 tower cranes in operation in the city, including contracts at ground zero. Lomma, of Staten Island, was a member of the building department's crane advisory board and helped draft rules and regulations regarding cranes.

Construction accidents are not always the fault of the person who is operating the machinery, often they can be attributed to the carelessness of managers or other people who are running the job site. Construction companies must follow strict jobsite safety regulations, including rules governing heavy equipment operation, to ensure the safety of workers and the public.

If you have been injured in a construction accident, you may be able to be compensated for your injury or a loved one's death if you talk to our lawyers. Many factors must be taken into consideration when determining if an injury or death was the result of negligence, equipment failure or dangerous worksite conditions. You may be entitled to compensation for things such as medical expenses or pain and suffering, or the lost prospect of receiving an inheritance, loss of financial support and funeral expenses for the personal injury or wrongful death of a loved one.

At Napoli Bern Ripka LLP, we are experienced in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. We know that dealing with the death of a loved one is difficult. Contact us to discuss what you can do to recover for the loss call 888-529-4669 or visit www.NapoliBern.com today.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Paul Napoli

Full post as published by New York City Personal Injury Lawyer on March 09, 2010 (boomark / email).