Brief
Construction workers sue NYC and Skanska over Legionnaires outbreak linked to faulty cooling‑tower system
The lawsuit claims a broken valve and an offline monitoring computer let Legionella bacteria grow in a Harlem cooling tower, sickening 100 and killing seven.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Four construction workers filed a $40 million lawsuit in Manhattan Supreme Court accusing the city and contractor Skanska of negligence that led to last year’s deadly Legionnaires outbreak at the Harlem Public Health Laboratory water tower, according to the New York Post.
What happened
The outbreak in July 2025 killed seven people and sickened about 100 others, officials said. The lawsuit alleges that the automated controller meant to monitor water quality was never connected to the internet, preventing real‑time alerts when chlorine levels fell. A separate mechanical failure – a busted valve – allegedly stopped the system from flushing contaminated water and refilling with clean water, allowing Legionella bacteria to proliferate.
What the report adds
The suit details that the cooling tower’s chlorine levels were reportedly lower than normal for several days in mid‑July, despite routine treatment, creating conditions for bacterial growth. It also cites the city health department’s own report, which listed a “complex engineering design” and “improper startup procedures” as contributing factors. The complaint notes that Skanska began using the tower in May without notifying the city and only registered the tower days after the outbreak began.
What was said
Workers’ attorney Jared Scotto told the Post, “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.” The lawsuit further states that the plaintiffs – Nunzio Quinto, Thomas Dawson, Ahmad Ward and Duane Headley – were previously involved in merged cases against the contractor.
How it came about
The lawsuit follows earlier legal actions by construction workers against Skanska and references the city’s own investigation linking eight Legionnaires cases directly to the lab tower. The plaintiffs argue that the combination of an unplugged monitoring computer and a broken valve created a “perfect storm” for the bacteria to thrive, leading to the severe public‑health incident.
Key facts
- Four construction workers filed a $40 million lawsuit against NYC and Skanska. (nypost.com)
- The suit alleges an unplugged computer and a busted valve prevented proper water‑quality monitoring. (nypost.com)
- The Legionnaires outbreak in July 2025 killed seven and sickened about 100. (nypost.com)
- City health officials cited complex engineering design and improper startup as contributing factors. (nypost.com)
- Skanska allegedly began using the tower in May without notifying the city. (nypost.com)
Sources
- [1] nypost.com — originally reported as “Exclusive | NYC’s deadly Legionnaires’ outbreak linked to unplugged computer and a busted valve: $40M lawsuit”
