NEW YORK, NY — September 16, 2025 — A leading attorney in Legionnaires’ disease litigation is warning building owners across the country to step up water system maintenance after a deadly outbreak in Iowa left one person dead and many more sickened.
“This is preventable—and it keeps happening,” said Ronald J. Katter, a New York-based attorney known for representing victims of Legionnaires’ disease. “The outbreak in Marshalltown, Iowa, should be a wake-up call for building owners everywhere.”
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed the outbreak on September 4, reporting one death and more than 20 infections. Since then, the number of infections has more than doubled to 54, as of September 15. Officials have not yet identified the source of the Legionella bacteria, but testing of the cooling towers is underway. They have also urged all building owners and operators to inspect and disinfect their water systems immediately.
This outbreak echoes a similar crisis in New York City just weeks earlier. In late July, at least seven people died and more than 100 were sickened in Central Harlem. Cooling towers at Harlem Hospital have come under scrutiny, and Katter has filed legal claims on behalf of residents allegedly infected by the contaminated system.
“These are not isolated incidents,” said Katter. “We’ve seen this before in New York, and now Iowa is facing the same tragedy. The law is clear — building owners must maintain safe water systems. When they don’t, lives are at risk.”
Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by inhaling water vapor contaminated with Legionella bacteria, commonly found in poorly maintained cooling towers and plumbing systems. According to the CDC, outbreaks are largely preventable through proper maintenance and monitoring.
Katter, who first gained national attention in 2015 after representing victims of the deadly Opera House Hotel outbreak in the Bronx, says the latest cases underscore an ongoing failure in oversight and enforcement.
“One death is one too many,” he said. “This is a public health failure — and a legal one.”
Mr. Katter is available for interviews on this matter. For more information, call (212) 809-4293 or visit www.katterlaw.com.
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About Katter Law Firm
The Katter Law Firm represents clients throughout New York City in personal injury cases including those who have suffered injuries in automobile accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, truck accidents, slip/trip and falls, hotel accidents, assaults, workplace accidents, construction accidents, professional malpractice, nursing home negligence, hospital mistreatment, police abuse, accidental deaths and pet attacks. The firm aggressively represents injured victims through the five boroughs, including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens as well as Westchester County. For more information, call (212) 809-4293 or visit www.katterlaw.com.
