When a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak is suspected, environmental sampling becomes one of the first and most important steps in identifying the source of contamination. This process involves collecting water and environmental samples from potential sources like cooling towers, plumbing systems, and hot tubs to detect the presence of Legionella bacteria. By pinpointing contaminated areas, environmental…
What Is Legionella and How Does It Affect Tenants? Legionella is the bacteria that cause Legionnaires’ disease, a serious type of pneumonia contracted by inhaling contaminated water droplets. In U.S. rental housing, Legionella concerns typically arise from plumbing systems, cooling towers, hot tubs, or decorative fountains. While there is no nationwide “Legionella law” for apartments,…
In public safety cases, the key difference between negligence and recklessness can shape liability and compensation. Negligence is failing to exercise reasonable care, while recklessness shows a willful disregard for others’ safety. Recklessness often brings harsher legal consequences, including punitive damages. This article breaks down these concepts and their impact on your case. What Is…
In recent years, Legionnaires’ disease litigation has significantly increased, prompting discussions among lawyers about its rising frequency and the broader implications for property owners and businesses. Legionnaires’ disease, caused by Legionella bacteria, is a severe form of pneumonia that can result in long-term health complications and, in some cases, death. With the frequency of outbreaks…
When lives are lost in preventable outbreaks, the law often follows. Sometimes, it does so too slowly, but with force. Few diseases have shaped public health policy as profoundly as Legionnaires’ disease, a severe, often deadly form of pneumonia caused by inhaling contaminated water droplets. Past Legionnaires’ outbreaks exposed dangerous gaps in public health law….
Cruise vacations promise luxury, relaxation, and adventure. But behind the scenes, cooling towers onboard these floating cities can become breeding grounds for deadly bacteria. When Legionella enters a ship’s air-conditioning or water systems, it can spread undetected until passengers and crew start falling seriously ill. That’s exactly what’s happened in over 30 cases between 2015…
Legionnaires’ disease continues to make headlines across the United States, with outbreaks reported in New York City, Ohio, and other regions in 2025. This serious form of pneumonia, caused by inhaling water droplets contaminated with Legionella bacteria, has increased scrutiny on how building codes and regulations address water system safety. As cases rise, lawmakers, public…
When it comes to Legionnaires’ disease, the consequences of inaction can be devastating, causing outbreaks, hospitalizations, lawsuits, and in some cases, death. Hotels, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and commercial buildings with large water systems are especially vulnerable, often serving immunocompromised populations or using complex infrastructure where Legionella bacteria can thrive. The good news? Nearly all…
Caring for a loved one with Legionnaires’ disease can feel like stepping into the unknown: emotionally overwhelming, legally complex, and filled with questions you never thought you’d need to answer. From managing hospital visits and medications to figuring out your legal rights and responsibilities, it’s a situation that tests even the most resilient caregivers. Here’s…
Imagine trying to stop a deadly outbreak with only a blurry picture of the suspect. For decades, that’s exactly how public health officials investigated Legionnaires’ disease. Traditional methods like pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and sequence-based typing (SBT) could offer clues, but rarely a clear match. As a result, only 38% of Legionnaires’ outbreak investigations using…
