If you have been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease, a form of pneumonia, your illness was preventable and you deserve compensation.
Legionnaires disease (LD) lawsuit settlement amounts are based on several factors, including the following:
- Whether the victim survives. When LD is fatal, which it often is, the family has a wrongful death claim against the legally responsible parties.
- Whether the source of the contamination has been determined. This illness is a severe form of pneumonia caused by inhaling Legionella bacterium in mist. To find the source, water samples from locations visited by the victim(s) prior to illness are tested. If a source of the infection is not found, there is no one to sue, and thus no settlement. If a source is found, the amount of the settlement will be affected by the insurance coverage of those responsible and other financial considerations.
- The severity of the Legionella pneumonia. This is obvious, but the severity of the illness, its short and long-term affects on the victim, is the primary compensation factor. Most cases have some permanent complications, and a compensation package should take this into account. Complications can include respiratory distress, heart problems, kidney damage and other injuries.
- The age and occupation of the victim. Compensation computations for settlement negotiations factor in the age, occupation, education, hobbies, etc. of the victim.
What if I Have a Wrongful Death Claim?
When a person does not survive this severe pneumonia, the family may have a wrongful death claim and have the right to sue for compensation if:
- the building with the contaminated water source is found or
- the person who died was only at one location (hospital, nursing home, etc.) for the week prior to onset of illness.
In addition to our many other cases, our lawyers recently settled a wrongful death case against the owner of a national hotel chain. A few days after our client and his wife had visited the hotel, she began to get sick. It was soon clear that she had pneumonia and was fighting for her life. Sadly, she lost the battle. Her husband hired our Legionnaires disease attorneys to help him. We found out that the hotel had been notified its water system was contaminated with Legionella bacteria (the pathogen that causes Legionnaires’), but had done nothing about it. Our legal team helped the client get a multimillion-dollar settlement, thereby holding the owners accountable for our client’s tragic loss of his spouse.
What Compensation Can I Get for a Personal Injury Claim?
If a patient survives, that person has a personal injury claim. This means he or she can sue for medical expenses, lost income and pain and suffering compensation.
Our lawyers won a settlement for a woman who suffered Legionnaires’ pneumonia after staying at a resort during a conference. She was one of 3 people to get sick in the outbreak.
Our client arrived at the resort on a Wednesday and stayed in a room with a deep bathtub with a shower. During her stay, she used the shower three times.
She went to work a few days later, but did not feel well, suffering from chills and muscle aches. A few days after that, feeling worse and with a 101.9° F temperature, she went to the doctor. She was diagnosed with LD. She was in acute respiratory distress and extremely dehydrated. She was hospitalized for 6 days.
What if I Get Sick from My Place of Work
If your illness was caused by contaminated water in a building that was not owned by your employer, you may have a personal injury claim against the owner of that building. This is important because workers’ compensation does not provide money for pain and suffering. For example, you are an accountant working for Corporation X. You develop severe pneumonia that is diagnosed as LD. Health officials find Legionella bacteria in the cooling tower of the building where you work. The building is owned by Corporation Y, not Corporation X. This bacteria is tested, as is the bacterium found in your body, and they are a genetic match (yes, bacteria have DNA). You will most likely have a lawsuit against the owner of the building.
Free Consultation For My Legionnaires’ Case
Contact our Legionnaires’ disease lawyers about a lawsuit against a hotel, hospital, cruise liner or other company. Use the form below to request a free consultation.
Our experience is that these tragic illnesses are preventable and that business responsible for the contaminated water should be held accountable.
In all of our cases, the owner of a building allowed Legionella pneumophila bacteria to grow in water:
- in a cooling tower on the top of the building
- in the water system in general
- in a decorative fountain
- in a pool or hot tub.
If the problem is a contaminated cooling tower, water mist containing Legionella can travel a mile from the building, meaning anyone breathing in that mist within that mile radius could get fatally sick.
Outbreak News
Gaston County Legionnaires’ Disease
Health officials in Gatson County, NC are working to discover the source of a cluster of Legionnaire’s disease illnesses.
Nevada Outbreak at Caesars Palace
Nevada health department investigators found Legionella bacteria in a water sample at Caesars Palace after two people staying there contracted Legionnaires’ Disease.
Legionnaires’ Disease at Parkridge Nursing Home in Pleasant Hill, IA
One resident at Parkridge Nursing Home in Pleasant Hill, IA has developed Legionnaires’ disease. The facility is working with the state health department to address the problem and has distributed bottled water to residents.
Legionnaires Disease in Tomkins County, NY
Since June 1, 2023, 12 people in Tomkins County, NY have been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease and one of them has died. On average, the county sees one to four cases annually. Health officials have not yet identified the source of the outbreak but they have collected and are testing water samples from cooling towers and other areas.
Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak at River Tower Plaza
Two residents of River Park Towers in the Bronx are part of a Legiionnares’ diease outbreak. Both live in the building located at 10 Richman Plaza, but health officials are also evaluating the water at 20 Richman Plaza.
Two Deaths may be Tied Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak at Zen Day Spa in Richmond, CA
Contra Costa Health officials are investigating three cases of Legionnaires’ disease, two of them fatal, among customers at Zen Day Spa in Richmond, CA.
Legionnaires’ Outbreak in Grand Rapids, MN
Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak in Grand Rapids, MN includes 14 adults who became ill between the end of April and mid-July. All of them were hospitalized. Health officials have identified the municipal water supply as the source of the outbreak.
Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak at La Quinta Inn & Suites in Walla Walla, WA
A Legionnaires’ disease outbreak at La Quinta Inn & Suites in Walla Walla, WA includes at least three people.
Legionnaires’ Disease at Country Meadows in Bethlehem, PA
A short-term resident at Country Meadows Retirement Community in Bethlehem, PA has developed Legionnaires’ disease. The facility has hired a water management company that is conducting tests on water samples.
Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak at Care Facility in Eau Claire, WI
A Legionnaires’ disease outbreak at a care facility in Eau Claire, WI includes at least two people who became ill within the last three months. County health officials have chosen not to name the facility at this time.
Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak at Bonterra at Cross Creek Ranch
A Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak at Bonterra at Cross Creek Ranch, a 55+ community in Fulshear, Texas, includes four confirmed cases and four suspected illnesses. One person has died.
Crunch Fitness Legioannaires’ Disease Outbreak
A Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak at a Crunch Fitness in Boise, Idaho includes at least three people.
A Creeks on Kirklevington Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak?
Is there a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak at The Creeks of Kirlevington in Lexington, KY?
Meredith Woods Campground Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak
Five people are part of a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak at Meredith Woods and Clearwater Campground in Meredith, NH, according to the state department of health and human services. All of the patients, who visited the campground between early fall 2021 and January 2023, were hospitalized.
Legionnaires’ Disease Case Reported at San Diego State University
After a case of Legionnaires’ disease was reported at San Diego State University, health officials temporarily closed the Exercise and Nutritional Sciences building for testing. In a statement, the university said that the “campus community member” who was sickened is recovering away from campus.
Brookdale Eddy Pond Assisted Living Facility Investigation
Our team is looking into reports that at least one resident of Brookdale Eddy Pond in Auburn, Massachusetts contracted Legionnaires’ disease at the facility.
Morningside Heights, NY Nursing Home Outbreak
An outbreak at at the Amsterdam Nursing Home in Morningside Heights, New York has led to additional cases through at least the end of September, 2022. Eight illnesses and four deaths have so far been linked to this outbreak. Our legal team is currently investigating.
Napa County California Outbreak – Embassy Suites Cooling Tower is Suspected Source
A Legionnaires’ disease outbreak that includes 12 illnesses and led to at least one death may be linked to Embassy Suites Napa Valley, according to the county health department. Testing revealed that legionella, the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease, was found in the hotel’s cooling tower, fountain and pond.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Dayton South in Dayton, OH
Our Legionnaire’s Disease legal team is investigating reports of a cluster of Legionnaire’s Disease cases that might be linked to exposure to contaminated aerosolized water at the Holiday inn Express and Suites, Dayton South on I-675.
Hilton/Hampton Inn Parsippany Hotel in NJ
Three guests at the Hilton/Hampton Inn Parsippany Hotel in New Jersey contracted Legionnaires’ disease. The guests, who ranged in age from 52 to 77, stayed at the hotel between July 2021 and October 2021.
After the second case was identified in February 2022, the state health department began an outbreak investigation. Samples from the building’s water system tested positive for Legionella, the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease.
Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak at Waikiki Grand Islander Hotel
The Pritzker Hageman Legionnaires’ disease lawyers are representing a Texas man who was sickened after staying at the Hilton Grand Islander resort in Waikiki, HI. There have been five confirmed cases of Legionella infections among non-residents who stayed at the Grand Islander in June 2021, March 2022, and April 2022. The Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) says water samples collected in March indicated a potential for Legionella growth within the hotel’s potable water system.
Rochdale Village in Queens, NY Possible Outbreak
A possible Legionnaires’ disease outbreak at the Rochdale Village Cooperative in Queens may have sickened as many as 10 people as of December 2021. Our Legionnaires’ disease lawyers are currently investigating and have been interviewing people affected.
Hotel Hot Tubs Possible Source of Legionella Bacteria
A New Hampshire Legionnaires’ disease outbreak has sickened 12 people killing one of them. Health officials are eyeing the hot tubs at two hotels -the Sands Resort and the Harris Sea Ranch Motel, as potential sources of the Legionella bacteria that caused the outbreak. Illnesses were reported to health officials from June to mid-August, 2018. Most people lived in or visited the Hampton Beach area near Ashworth Avenue between Island Path and M Street, where both hotels are located.
Washington Heights Legionnaires’ Outbreak
A Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City sickened eighteen people. One person died. The people sickened in the Washington Heights Legionnaires’ disease outbreak reported in July of 2018 range in age from 40 to 80 years old. The person who died was over 50 and had underlying health conditions.