Crane owner goes to trial in deadly NYC collapse Feb 21 05:09 PM US/Eastern NEW YORK (AP) - A New York City prosecutor says a construction crane owner's greed caused a collapse that killed two workers in 2008. But a defense lawyer calls the case a rush to judgment. James Lomma's manslaughter trial opened Tuesday. It's the only criminal trial stemming from the May 2008 collapse on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Crane operator Donald C. Leo and fellow worker Ramadan Kurtaj (Koor-TAHZH') were killed. Prosecutors say Lomma pinched pennies on a crucial repair job that failed and caused the collapse. The defense says Lomma acted responsibly in getting the repair done and inspected. Lomma's lawyers say expert witnesses have concluded the crane fell apart because it was pulled too high - not because the repaired part failed.