A Manhattan judge declared a mistrial in a civil case brought against James Lomma by the families of two men who died in a crane collapse in May 2008.
An attorney for Lomma sought a mistrial Wednesday because Lomma would be unable to attend the trial while he recovered from injuries sustained in a car accident. State Supreme Court Justice Manuel Mendez said proceeding without Lomma present violated his constitutional rights, the AP reported.
Lomma is the owner of New York Crane and Equipment, the company that owned the crane that collapsed at the Azure building, killing the operator and one worker on the ground. He was acquitted in a criminal case in 2012. [AP] — Tom DiChristopher