Metro

Construction magnate had ‘reckless disregard’ in deadly crane collapse

The construction magnate who is being sued over the death of two workers called himself the King of Cranes, but he had a “reckless disregard” for human life, an attorney for one of the victims said on Friday.

Lawyer Bernadette Panzella, who represents the Staten Island family of the late crane operator Donald Leo, made the accusations in her opening statements at the long-awaited civil trial against James Lomma.

Leo’s mother, 54-year-old DOE administrator Maria Leo, quietly wiped away tears during the first statements to the jury six years after she filed her wrongful death case in Manhattan Supreme Court.

The seventh anniversary of Leo’s death is next week, May 30.

“Cranes are not built to fall,” Maria told The Post. “If you maintain them and take good care of them they’re not built to fall and kill people,” she said, sitting in court, wearing a photo of her son pinned to her lapel.

Donald Leo’s family exits the courthouse on May 23. Leo fell to his death when the crane he was in collapsed.David McGlynn

After the opening statements Maria, noting that Lomma was acquitted in a criminal trial in 2012, said she hopes the jury awards a massive sum to teach the crane king a lesson.

The scene of the fatal crash.AP

“He should lose every dime he has.”

The former high school football player was just three weeks away from his wedding to social worker Janine Belcastro when he fell to his death.

Panzella accused Lomma of creating a dangerous worksite on E. 91st Street by putting the then 30-year-old Donald 240 feet up in the cab of a towering crane that had shoddily repaired parts from China.

She said the faulty bearing took only 12 weeks and $20,000 to make abroad, whereas American companies were charging $120,000 and taking 28 weeks.

The family for the second worker who died, Ramadan Kurtaj, 27, traveled from Kosovo to attend the likely month-long trial.

“He was hoping for a better life,” said cousin Sinanaj Xhevahire, who is represented by attorney Susan Karten.

“He thought this is the safest country to live — the United States.”