Construction Workers Sue Over Alleged Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak

Two construction workers are taking legal action against contractors, claiming they contracted Legionnaires’ disease while working at or near Harlem Hospital Center. They allege that the contractors did not properly maintain the water cooling towers, leading to contamination by the bacteria responsible for the illness.

Duane Headley and Nunzio Quinto, both from Nassau County in Long Island, assert in their legal filings that they became ill during their time at construction sites associated with Harlem Hospital, which has been at the epicenter of a significant outbreak of the disease.

“This medical tragedy… was a completely preventable outbreak,” remarked the workers’ attorney, Ben Crump, during a press briefing in Harlem. “When corporations cut corners, tragedies like this happen.”

The contractors involved in the lawsuit, Rising Sun Construction LLC and Skanska USA Building, haven’t commented yet. The workers’ lawyers plan to also pursue action against the city, which owns Harlem Hospital. The city’s health department stated that it would not address pending litigation.

Harlem Hospital was one of ten locations where the city detected cooling towers that tested positive for Legionella, the bacterium that causes Legionnaires’ disease, a serious form of pneumonia.

Recent updates from City Hall indicated that five people have died and 109 have reported illness due to the outbreak. Currently, nine individuals remain hospitalized. In total, 12 cooling towers across the ten buildings tested positive for Legionella.

As of last Friday, all cooling towers had been treated, according to the city’s report. However, officials have yet to confirm if the bacteria found in these towers is linked to the ongoing infections. Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse noted that results from DNA sequencing are still pending.

Attorney Jared Scotto, who also represents the workers, shared that a bulletin had been issued on July 1 by New York City Health and Hospitals, warning construction companies about the potential for Legionella in cooling towers.

“We believe these construction companies were aware, or should have been aware, of the presence of Legionella bacteria in the cooling towers at Harlem Hospital,” Scotto stated.

Quinto, who works as an electrician, mentioned that his coworkers were not informed about his diagnosis with Legionnaires’ disease. He shared that he has only recently started to feel well enough to walk around following a difficult recovery in the hospital.

“Is it too much to ask for a safe workplace? This is New York City,” Quinto expressed during the press conference. “I just want some answers.”

The workers are represented by Crump, a well-known civil rights lawyer with a history of advocating for families affected by police violence and residents impacted by lead contamination in Flint, Michigan.

The Rev. Al Sharpton was present alongside Crump, Scotto, and Quinto at the press conference held at the National Action Network’s House of Justice in Harlem. “It’s alarming that there hasn’t been accountability in this situation,” Sharpton remarked.

This article has been updated with additional information from the city.