Lawsuits Filed Over Deadly Harlem Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak Linked to Construction Sites

Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak in Harlem

• 🦠 Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Harlem has led to two separate lawsuits.
• ⚠️ Both lawsuits claim construction companies failed to protect workers from unsafe conditions that contributed to the spread of the disease.

Cooling Towers and Bacteria Growth

• 🏗️ Complaints state that companies were responsible for maintaining cooling towers that became filled with untreated rainwater during July storms.
• 💧 These untreated conditions created ideal environments for Legionella bacteria to grow.

Lawsuits Filed Against Construction Companies

• 🏢 The first lawsuit names Rising Sun Construction LLC and alleges construction worker Dwayne Hedley contracted Legionnaires' while working at the Harlem Hospital complex.
• 🏥 The second suit is against Scansa USA Building Inc., with worker Nunio Quinto claiming exposure to Legionella at a site next to Harlem Hospital.

Worker Experiences and Demands

• 🤕 Dwayne Hedley was hospitalized and is still recovering.
• ⚡ Nunio Quinto was also hospitalized, experiencing a lack of energy, and is now beginning to recover, seeking answers about workplace safety.
• ⚖️ Plaintiffs are seeking damages for medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
• 🗣️ Neither Rising Sun Construction nor Scansa USA had official comment at the time of reporting.