INDICTMENTS FOR CRANE OWNER

The owner of a crane company has been charged with manslaughter for the death of two men in the May 2008 crane collapse at 333 E. 91st St., between First and Second avenues. James Lomma, owner of New York Crane and Equipment Corp., and Tibor Varganyi, a former mechanic for the company, were charged with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. J. F. Lomma, Inc., was also charged. The office of District Attorney Cy Vance accused the men and companies of trying to save money by replacing a turntable's which allows the top part of a crane to swivel's with a cheap version from a Chinese company, among other violations. â??When safety is sacrificed for profit, the public bears the risk of harm, Vance said in a statement. â??Today"s indictment is an important step not only in holding these defendants accountable for their conduct, but should send a message to the construction industry that profit cannot be put ahead of safety.