Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria colonizing in the lungs. People get Legionnaires’ disease by breathing in water mist contaminated with Legionella bacteria.
When a custodian at Grace A. Dunn Middle School in Trenton, New Jersey, contracted Legionnaires’ disease, health officials suspected that a water source at the school was contaminated with Legionella. After water samples at the school tested positive for Legionella, the school district hired an industrial hygiene firm to remove the bacteria from the school’s water system and do further testing.
According to the school, test results showed the remediation was effective, except for two old sinks that are now out of service. Additional testing on water from the sinks is being done.
Can One Sue a School for Legionnaires’ Disease (Legionella Pneumonia)?
Legionella bacteria have genetic “fingerprints”. These genetic fingerprints can be used in a lawsuit against a school to obtain compensation for a Legionnaire’ disease (Legionella pneumonia) patient. Generally the following needs to be true for the patient to have a claim against a school:
- The genetic fingerprint of the Legionella that sickened the patient matches the genetic fingerprint of Legionella bacteria found in water at a school; and
- The patient visited the school not more than 2 weeks before the onset of Legionnaires’ disease symptoms.
Legionella pneumonia often results in permanent damage or death. Attorney Fred Pritzker has successfully represented clients in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits against building owners. He has used DNA evidence to win cases.
“Building owners have a duty to protect every person that lawfully visits their building,” said Fred. “Legionnaires’ disease cases are preventable with well-known Legionella prevention measures. Building owners who take short cuts or are otherwise negligent need to be held accountable for illnesses.”
You can contact attorney Fred Pritzker for a free consultation (click here now or call 1-888-377-8900) about a lawsuit against a school district or other building owner.
