Lawsuit Links NYC Legionnaires' Outbreak to Unplugged Computer, Busted Valve

A $40 million lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court alleges that a combination of an unplugged computer system and a broken valve contributed to the deadly Legionnaires' disease outbreak in New York City last year, which resulted in seven deaths and sickened approximately 100 people.

The suit, filed Wednesday by four individuals who contracted the illness, names the city and the construction firm Skanska as defendants. According to the lawsuit, the computer system designed to monitor water quality at the cooling tower of the Harlem Public Health Lab was not connected to the internet.

This lack of connectivity meant the automated controller could not provide real-time notifications regarding water quality issues, such as inadequate biocide treatment, the suit states. "We believe that if that machine had been maintained the way it was supposed to, Skanska would have known about the dangerous condition in that cooling tower," said Jared Scotto, the workers' lawyer.

The lawsuit also identifies a busted valve as a critical factor, which prevented the system from properly flushing out dirty water and replenishing it with clean water. This allowed the bacteria that causes Legionnaires' disease to proliferate rapidly. The plaintiffs include construction workers Nunzio Quinto, Thomas Dawson, Ahmad Ward, and Duane Headley, whose previous claims against the contractor have been consolidated into this new filing.

The suit contends that low chlorine levels in the cooling tower for several days in mid-July, despite routine treatment, likely contributed to the bacteria's growth. An earlier report by the city's Health Department also cited a "complex engineering design" and "improper startup procedures" for the tower at the municipal site next to Harlem Hospital as contributing factors.

Skanska reportedly began using the tower in May without notifying the city and registered it days after the outbreak in late July, according to the lawsuit. The city's report definitively linked eight cases of Legionnaires' disease to the lab's tower and suggested it was likely a source for many more.

The Harlem Hospital water system itself was also found to have contributed to the outbreak. Scotto, who represents over 50 victims and their families, stated, "The people that were responsible for making sure that this dangerous machine was working as it should just weren't paying attention." He added, "We believe that underpins the indifference to the community. We're looking forward to getting justice for the individuals and the families that were affected by this."

A representative for Skanska acknowledged awareness of the complaint and stated they are reviewing its contents. City officials declined to comment on the lawsuit.