A restaurant destroyed by a deadly East Side crane collapse won its second settlement related to the accident. Crave Ceviche Bar (now Crave Fishbar), which eventually reopened across the street, first negotiated $1.3 million from its former landlord as compensation for lease termination. Now the restaurant has another $1.2 million to pocket from multiple defendants.
Defendants on the suit which dates back to 2008 include the crane contractor Rapetti Rigging Services, as well as the Department of Buildings, an entity connected to Kennelly Development and James Lomma’s New York Crane & Equipment. It is not clear however which defendants paid into the settlement. Crave’s attorney, Adam Leitman Bailey, said his clients might use the funds to open a new restaurant elsewhere.
The 2008 crane accident remains the worst in New York City history, killing seven and injuring 24 people around the construction site of a 43-story building at 303 East 51st Street, then being built by Kennelly Development. Developer Ziel Feldman of HFZ Capital Group later acquired the site, developing it into the Halcyon condominium.
The crane contractor during the collapse, William Rapetti, was acquitted of second-degree manslaughter and other criminal charges in 2010.
Clarification: There were multiple defendants named on the lawsuit, not just Rapetti Rigging Services.