New Lawsuits Filed Over Deadly Harlem Legionnaires' Outbreak

Legionnaires' Outbreak Lawsuits

• ⚖️ Civil rights attorney Ben Crump announced additional lawsuits on behalf of families affected by the deadly Legionnaires' outbreak in Harlem this summer.
• 💔 The lawsuits aim to seek justice for victims, including the family of Bruce Scott, whose partner Lakesha Plowden contracted the disease.

Allegations Against City Government

• 🏛️ Crump criticized the city government, alleging they did not adequately ensure the cleanliness of cooling towers, which were identified as the source of the outbreak.
• ⚠️ City health officials pinpointed cooling towers at a city-owned construction site (contracted with Skanska) and Harlem Hospital as the outbreak's origin.
• 🏢 Attorneys argue that as building owners, the city had a responsibility to check and clean these cooling towers.

Lawsuits Against Skanska and City

• 🏗️ A third lawsuit was filed against Skanska on behalf of a construction worker sickened by Legionnaires' disease at the construction site.
• 📜 The lawsuit against Skanska highlights that a cooling tower at their site had never been registered with the Department of Health.
• 🗣️ Civil rights leaders suggest the outbreak may have been undercounted, with many victims initially misdiagnosed with pneumonia.

Calls for Transparency and Accountability

• 📄 Skanska stated they worked closely with the Department of Health to disinfect the cooling tower at their job site.
• 🔍 For the families involved, the legal actions are about achieving transparency and accountability from city officials and contractors.
• 📢 Attorneys plan to file a fourth lawsuit later this week.