Azure crane owner denied license reinstatement

James Lomma "demonstrated poor moral character": judge

James Lomma Azure
The Azure crane collapse (inset: James Lomma)

Crane mogul James Lomma’s equipment won’t be hoisting or rigging anything any time soon.

A Queens judge slapped down the New York Crane and Equipment Corporation owner’s attempt to force the Department of Buildings to renew his hoisting-machine operator and master-rigger licenses.

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Justice Allan Weiss said that Lomma had “demonstrated poor moral character.”

Lomma was owner of the crane that collapsed in 2008, killing two people, at the site of the Azure Condominium at 33 East 91st Street on the Upper East Side. He was acquitted of criminal charges in connection with accident in back 2012, but, in July, he found 61 percent liable and was ordered to pay $48 million in damages to the families of the two victims — Donald Leo and Ramadan Kurtaj. [NYP]Ariel Stulberg