In 2008, a crane collapsed in Manhattan just weeks after it was repaired. Two workers were killed and many family members were left grieving their loss.
Recently, the mechanic who was responsible for arranging the repairs was sentenced to a year of community service. He previously pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide.
The mechanic and the crane owner were originally charged with manslaughter. Authorities say the crane was not properly repaired in an attempt to save time and money.
During the crane operator's trial, the mechanic testified against him. In return, he pled guilty to a reduced charge and will not face any time in jail. In the end, however, the charges against the crane owner were dismissed. The crane owner maintained that the repairs were done properly and that "other factors caused the collapse."
The victims' relatives are furious that the crane owner was never held responsible. They want justice to be served and even asked prosecutors to rescind their previous plea agreement with the mechanic so that he would be forced to spend time behind bars. A judge, however, declined their request.
Cranes are a common sight in New York City. However, accidents involving cranes are often very serious. People who are injured in a crane accident can suffer debilitating injuries and even die.
Although the families in this situation do not feel that justice has been served, they may wish to move forward with a civil lawsuit. After all, when certain safety measures are not taken and people are harmed in the process, negligent parties should be held responsible.
Source: ABC News, "No Jail for Mechanic in Deadly NYC Crane Collapse," Jennifer Peltz, Aug. 7, 2012
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