NEW YORK, NY — Ronald J. Katter, the Legionnaires’ disease Lawyer, said the New York City Department of Health’s October 9, 2024, report of two Legionnaires’ disease cases at Co-op City in the Bronx, New York, in the last year, is alarming. According to Mr. Katter, Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks would not occur, unless property owners fail to perform legally required testing and maintenance of their buildings’ water systems.  Owners, who fail to comply with the law, are liable to for the sickness and harm which result.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Legionnaires’ disease is caused by the Legionella bacteria. The bacteria can grow in warm water found in cooling towers, hot water tanks, and plumbing systems. People contract the disease when they breathe water vapor containing the bacteria.

Mr. Katter says it is critical that anyone who experiences Legionnaires’ disease symptoms — which may include any of the following: headache, muscle pain, chills, fever, coughs, gastrointestinal symptoms or confusion — seek immediate medical attention. “For the at-risk population who are over 50 years old, smokers, individuals with chronic respiratory ailments or compromised immune systems, Legionnaires’ disease can be life-threatening, so, for them, time is of the essence.” Mr. Katter also urges those seeking medical attention to “tell their physicians about the outbreak, so that they can be properly tested.”

Co-op City has had prior Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks, with fatalities. In 2018, a cluster of the disease at the apartment complex killed one person and sickened two others. A deadly Co-op City outbreak in 2015 resulted in two deaths and 31 being sickened. The cause was traced to one of the complex’s cooling towers.

“This was not the first time that Legionnaires’ disease has sickened Co-op City’s residents,” Mr. Katter said. “Had the property owners followed local law and kept the cooling towers properly cleaned and maintained, there would be no more Legionnaires’ outbreaks.”

Mr. Katter is a skilled advocate and highly experienced in representing clients who were sickened with Legionnaires’ disease. He has taken legal action against building owners who willfully refuse to clean and maintain the buildings’ water systems. For more information, call (212) 809-4293 or visit www.katterlaw.com.

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About The Katter Law Firm

For more than 33 years, The Katter Law Firm represented clients in personal injury cases including those who have suffered injuries from Legionnaires’ disease, 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 and successfully represents clients throughout NYC’s five boroughs and the surrounding counties. For more information, call (212) 809-4293 or visit www.katterlaw.com.

ALBANY, NY — Ronald J. Katter of The Katter Law Firm says that the outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease at an assisted living facility in Albany, New York could have been prevented.

On August 30, the Albany County Health Department reported that a Legionnaires’ outbreak at Peregrine Senior Living at Shaker in Albany, hospitalized 25 people. Four of them have died. Administrators at Peregrine noted that, since the outbreak, they have installed water filters on some of its showers and sinks so that residents can still use the bathroom. In addition, they have provided residents with bottled water.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Legionnaires’ disease is caused by the Legionella bacteria. It grows in warm water found in water systems, cooling towers, hot tubs, decorative fountains and plumbing systems. People contract the disease when they breathe in water vapor containing the bacteria. The CDC notes that approximately 10% of all Legionnaires’ cases are fatal.

Seniors and people living with respiratory ailments and compromised immune systems like those who reside in assisted living facilities, are particularly susceptible to contracting Legionnaires ’ disease.

In a study, the CDC found that all deficiencies associated with the outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease could have been prevented by comprehensive and properly implemented water management programs. These programs include regularly cleaning and disinfecting water systems.

A facility’s failure to perform proper water system maintenance, which results in Legionnaires’ disease, may be the basis for civil and legal liability under New York law. That entitles those who were sickened with the disease to seek monetary compensation for their injuries from the facility.

“While I applaud the actions of the assisted living facility’s staff to keep its residents safe after the outbreak, they should have taken a proactive approach to make sure this didn’t happen in the first place,” Mr. Katter says. “When you have a facility that is housing the most vulnerable population, keeping the water systems clean and safe, must be priority number one.”

Mr. Katter says it is critical that anyone who experiences Legionnaires’ disease symptoms — which may include one or more of the following: headache, muscle pain, chills, fever, cough, gastrointestinal symptoms and confusion — seek immediate medical attention. “For the at-risk population, Legionnaires’ disease can be life-threatening, so, for them, time is of the essence.” Mr. Katter also urges those seeking medical attention to “tell their health providers about the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak, so that they will be properly tested for it.”

Mr. Katter is an experienced attorney who has successfully represented clients, who were sickened with Legionnaires’ disease. He fights to recover the maximum amount of money to compensate them for their injuries. He has taken legal action against building owners, hospitals, and care facilities, which fail to clean and maintain their buildings’ water systems. For more information, call (212) 809-4293 or visit www.katterlaw.com.

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