Construction contractors report a drastic increase in lawsuits against them for suspicious injuries.
They claim they are losing millions and that, by law, there is nothing that can be done to stop it.
The alleged accidents occur at low altitudes, without witnesses and with workers who have only been working for a couple of days.
These lawsuits are protected under Section 240 of the New York State Labor Law, commonly known as the Scaffold Law which was established in 1885.
The measure seeks to protect workers who challenge great heights.
Proponents of the law argue that the law makes contractors and owners liable for damages in the event of an accident, forcing contractors to provide adequate safety equipment.
However, the New York City Association of Special Riggers says the scaffolding law sends insurance costs skyrocketing, forcing increases in rental rates and unit maintenance.
They add that they have seen a 200 to 300 percent increase in claims they consider suspicious, which has them on the brink of bankruptcy, and call for more investigations to detect fraud.
