Crane Owner Acquitted in Fatal Crane Accident Case
The crane accident that killed two construction workers happened nearly four years ago. But just last week, it was still being hashed out in the criminal courts.
James Lomma, a construction crane owner, was found not guilty of manslaughter and other criminal charges related to the two deaths. It was his crane that collapsed on that day in May 2008.
The crane was working on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, beginning on the 14th floor of what would eventually become a 32-story building. The top portion of the rig came off and crashed into the building across the street before falling to the ground below, according to the Associated Press.
The crane operator was killed instantly, and a worker on the ground died at the hospital.
This case marks the second attempt by Manhattan prosecutors to hold construction companies or crane owners responsible for crane accident deaths.
Tibor Varganyi, a mechanic who worked with Lomma, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of criminally negligent homicide a year ago, according to news reports. His sentencing will come this month.
According to the Associated Press, Lomma and Varganyi negotiated online with a Chinese welding company for the best price in repairing an element of the crane. The company had reservations about doing the job, but the duo used them anyway.
Prosecutors argued that Lomma didn’t follow city requirements for the weld repair and that it was a weak weld that ultimately caused the accident. Lomma’s defense attorneys, however, argued that it wasn’t the weld that caused the accident.
The judge ruled not guilty without providing any reasoning.
If you are injured on a New York or New Jersey construction site because of inadequate safety precautions, someone else’s mistake, or faulty equipment, you want to know that someone has your best interests in mind.
Many construction accident victims find resolution through the civil courts, receiving compensation for their injuries. If you have been injured in a construction accident, contact our NY / NJ construction accident attorneys today to discuss the details of your case.
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