# Holy Crap!  NYC's top crane inspector arrested for taking bribes

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-nycs-top-crane-inspector-arrested-for-taking-bribes/452069>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [June 6, 2008, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-nycs-top-crane-inspector-arrested-for-taking-bribes/452069 "2008-06-06T22:37:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\
**Post date:** [June 7, 2008, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-nycs-top-crane-inspector-arrested-for-taking-bribes/452069/21 "2008-06-07T20:32:00Z")

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[QUOTE=featherlou]  
**Otaku** , I told my husband about this, and his first response was, “Criminal negligence causing death.” We have different laws in Alberta than New York, of course, but OSHA in the US takes construction safety very seriously, too. I’ll see if Jim wants to come in and address this today.  
[/QUOTE]

IANAL, I just don’t think you can prove that, in NY or Federal courts, unless you can show a direct link of action, or inaction, on the defendant’s part that lead to the loss of life. _At the moment_ we don’t have evidence that the head man’s corruption included these big cranes as well as smaller ones.

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**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\
**Post date:** [June 7, 2008, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-nycs-top-crane-inspector-arrested-for-taking-bribes/452069/22 "2008-06-07T23:57:17Z")

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[QUOTE=WF Tomba]  
They ought to require the crane inspectors to go up to the top of a different crane every week. Then they’d be sure the cranes were safe.  
[/QUOTE]

I like this idea.

Sadly, I suspect this finding is more due to the crane collapse drawing close attention to the inspection process than it is to the uniqueness of this person’s taking bribes.

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**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-nycs-top-crane-inspector-arrested-for-taking-bribes/452069/23 "2008-06-08T01:02:06Z")

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[QUOTE=DrDeth]  
Bribery, in NYC? :eek: I am shocked, _shocked_ I tell you…

[/QUOTE]

And in the construction industry too!

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**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-nycs-top-crane-inspector-arrested-for-taking-bribes/452069/24 "2008-06-08T08:25:26Z")

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I’m sure everyone that lost money from cranes he authorized the usage of could sue the living Jesus out of him. This guy is going to be in court for the rest of his life, and there’s no freakin’ way he’ll be able to get a job.

I hope his mother has room in the basement for him.

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