Two construction workers in New York City have taken legal action after falling ill with Legionnaires’ disease while working at separate sites near Harlem Hospital. Nunzio Quinto and Duane Headley were hospitalized in July following exposure linked to contaminated cooling towers in a nearby building complex. These towers use water and fans to cool the buildings and have been identified as the source of a recent citywide outbreak.
The outbreak has been severe, resulting in six deaths and over 110 confirmed cases. Currently, seven people remain hospitalized. The city has since worked to clean and treat the cooling towers to prevent further spread.
Quinto and Headley are suing Rising Sun Construction and Skanska USA Building, the construction management firms that hired their subcontractors. The workers claim these companies did not take the necessary steps to ensure safe conditions on the job and are legally responsible for the workers’ illnesses under New York labor laws.
Their legal team includes Weitz & Luxenberg, a law firm known for handling civil rights and personal injury cases, with attorney Ben Crump representing the plaintiffs. The lawsuits bring attention to the risks workers face on sites near contaminated areas and highlight the importance of proper safety measures in preventing disease outbreaks.