Crane Collapse Responsibility
In the wake of the devastating tower crane collapse in Manhattan on May 20, it has come to light that Bethany Klein, the former Buildings Department head of the crane and derricks unit, warned the Department that the particular crane was at risk. The crane in question had been repaired in the months previous to the accident, but was questioned by some as to it’s overall health. From one of our senior partners, Jeffrey Lichtman:
As I’ve said time and again, crane collapses are some of the most dangerous and devastating accidents our city faces. Simultaneously, however, they are one of the easiest to avoid. In this particular case, Bethany Klein, the former head of the building department’s crane and derricks unit, had even written an email warning that the crane was in bad shape and ought to be shut down. This email was sent nine months before it ultimately collapsed, taking the lives of two construction workers. Unfortunately, the reality is that many of these tragedies are the result of an attempt by the construction companies to save time and money. Ceasing construction to make repairs on a crane is something construction companies avoid at all costs, but the result of the risk that they take ends up costing a lot more in the long run. As Ms. Klein wrote in her email, "The city needs to address this."
