Owner of building files $100 M lawsuit

The owner of a Manhattan building damaged in a deadly crane collapse last month has filed a $100 million lawsuit.

First & 91 LLC says in court papers that the May 30 accident on the Upper East Side happened because of "carelessness and negligence" by the crane owner, contractor and others working on a new 32-storey apartment tower.

The crane operator and another worker died when the 60-metre crane collapsed and smashed into the company's apartment building at East 91st Street at First Avenue.

The company alleges in court papers that the crane was improperly and hazardously welded and that that fact was concealed from the city's Buildings Department.

The contractor has declined to comment and other defendants did not immediately return calls.