NY1.com

  83º

07/15/2008 10:16 AM

Crane Victims' Families Requests Information On Collapse

By: NY1 News

  To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

The family of two workers killed in May's deadly crane collapse want access to more information about the accident — and the crane itself.

Lawyers for both Ramadan Kurtaj's and Donald Leo's families are asking a judge to allow them to inspect the damaged crane and access files detailing the crane's maintenance and repair history.

"We are here today just to find some answers," said Xhevahire Sinanaj, Kurtaj's cousin. "Our family's grieving. It's very hard for us. We're just here to know some answers. We just don't want the crane company to keep anything confidential. We just want to know the truth."

Kurtaj, 27, and Leo, 28, were killed on May 30th, when a crane collapsed on 91st Street and First Avenue.

The judge has signed off on the motion filed by Leo's attorney. An attorney for Kurtaj said she is hopeful her request will be granted as well.

"The genie is out of the bottle," said Susan Karten, an attorney for the Kurtaj family. "This happened and now the paper trail, with regards to this crane, must be put forward so that we can frame a proper complaint so that everybody that had anything to do with the repair and maintenance of this crane be in this case."

A lawyer for New York Crane called today's actions a "fishing expedition."

DOB employee Michael Carbone was suspended following the investigation into the collapse.

According to published reports, Carbone overruled construction workers who had expressed multiple concerns about the crane.

RELATED STORIES
  • Crane Collapse: Two Now Confirmed Dead In UES Tragedy

  •