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Jury Awards $47.8 Million To Families Of 2 Killed In Crane Collapse

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A jury in New York City has awarded $47.8 million to the families of two men killed in 2008 when a construction crane collapsed.

On Thursday, the jury in the civil case found the owner of the crane, James Lomma, and his companies responsible for the May 2008 collapse on Manhattan's Upper East Side.

Lomma and his companies will now have to pay $32 million to the family of Ramadan Kurtaj and $15.8 million to the family of Donald Leo.

The families' attorneys argued Lomma was responsible because he allowed an inferior repair to the crane.

Leo was operating the crane when it collapsed and he fell to his death. Kurtaj was crushed underneath.

Lomma was acquitted of manslaughter during a related criminal trial in 2012.

Lomma's attorney did not immediately respond to a call and email seeking comment.

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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