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A Legionnaires’ disease diagnosis can mean weeks of hospitalization, lasting respiratory complications, and overwhelming medical expenses. If your illness was caused by contaminated water at a hotel, apartment complex, hospital, or other commercial property, you shouldn’t have to bear those costs alone. Armstrong Lee & Baker represents victims of preventable Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks and fights to hold negligent property owners accountable for failing to maintain safe water systems.
Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, which thrive in contaminated water systems. Every year, thousands of people become seriously ill due to neglected water maintenance in hotels, hospitals, and other public spaces. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 8,890 Legionnaires disease cases were reported in the United States in 2019, with 421 confirmed cases in Texas alone. These numbers highlight the ongoing risk, especially in large buildings where water system maintenance is neglected. The actual incidence may be significantly higher due to underreporting.
Outbreaks are common in large buildings with aging or poorly maintained plumbing—hotels, healthcare facilities, and apartment complexes—where stagnant water allows bacteria to multiply. Victims frequently suffer from severe respiratory complications, mounting medical bills, and emotional distress. If you or a loved one has been affected, a Houston Legionnaires’ disease lawyer at Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP can help you pursue justice, hold negligent parties accountable, and secure fair compensation for your suffering and financial losses.
Legionnaires’ disease is often entirely preventable. When hotels, apartment complexes, hospitals, nursing homes, fitness centers, or other property owners fail to properly maintain their water systems, dangerous Legionella bacteria can grow and spread through contaminated water droplets. A single lapse in maintenance can leave dozens of people seriously ill, requiring hospitalization, intensive medical care, and months of recovery.
These cases are often more complex than a typical premises liability claim because they require proving where the exposure occurred and demonstrating that negligent water system maintenance caused the illness. At Armstrong Lee & Baker, we work with medical and environmental experts and investigators to uncover the source of the outbreak, preserve evidence, and build a strong case against the responsible parties. Our trial attorneys are prepared to stand up to large property owners, management companies, and their insurance carriers to pursue the full compensation our clients deserve.
If you developed Legionnaires’ disease after visiting a commercial property, our team is ready to help you understand your legal options and fight for the justice you deserve. Simply start with a free consultation.
Legionnaires’ disease is a severe lung infection caused by inhaling Legionella bacteria, commonly found in contaminated water sources. This illness poses a significant health risk, particularly for older adults, individuals with weakened immune systems, and those with underlying conditions. The Mayo Clinic states that Legionnaires’ disease does not spread from person to person. Instead, it is contracted by inhaling airborne water droplets contaminated with Legionella bacteria. Symptoms may include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and muscle aches. Prompt medical attention is crucial to prevent long-term complications or fatal outcomes.
Legionella bacteria grow in temperatures ranging from 77°F to 113°F, making water systems like cooling towers, fountains, hot tubs, and humidifiers ideal breeding grounds. Improper maintenance and disinfection are the principal causes of Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks, as stagnant water creates an excellent habitat for bacteria development. Regular testing and chlorination of water supplies can considerably lessen the possibility of an epidemic.
Legionella bacteria naturally occur in freshwater, but they become dangerous when they grow inside man-made water systems that are not properly maintained. The bacteria spread through tiny contaminated water droplets that people inhale, not by drinking contaminated water or through person-to-person contact.
Many Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks occur in large commercial buildings where complex plumbing systems, warm water temperatures, and stagnant water create ideal conditions for bacterial growth. Common sources of exposure include:
Property owners are responsible for implementing proper water management programs, regularly inspecting their plumbing systems, maintaining safe disinfectant levels, and correcting conditions that allow Legionella bacteria to multiply. When they fail to do so, preventable outbreaks can occur that put residents, employees, and visitors at serious risk.
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Legionnaires’ disease presents symptoms similar to other forms of pneumonia, but early detection is crucial to prevent severe complications and ensure timely, effective medical treatment. The most common symptoms include:
Symptoms typically appear 2 to 10 days after exposure, with early signs resembling the flu. Severe cases may require hospitalization and intensive medical care, including oxygen therapy or ventilator support.
Complications can include lung failure, septic shock, and acute kidney injury, especially in vulnerable individuals. Without prompt treatment, Legionnaires’ disease can lead to long-term lung damage and significantly impact a victim’s quality of life.
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Legionnaires’ disease cases often involve multiple potentially responsible parties. Determining liability requires a thorough investigation into where the exposure occurred, how the bacteria developed, and who was responsible for maintaining the contaminated water system.
Depending on the circumstances, liability may rest with:
Hotels have a duty to provide reasonably safe accommodations for their guests. This includes maintaining plumbing systems, cooling towers, decorative fountains, pools, and hot tubs to prevent dangerous bacterial growth. If poor maintenance causes guests to become ill, the hotel owner or operator may be held liable.
Apartment owners and management companies are responsible for maintaining the building’s plumbing and water systems. Aging infrastructure, stagnant water, broken equipment, or ignored maintenance issues can all contribute to Legionella growth. When landlords fail to address these hazards, residents who become sick may have a claim.
Fitness centers and gyms often have locker room showers, hot tubs, saunas, pools, and other water features that can create conditions for Legionella bacteria to grow if they’re not properly maintained. Owners and operators have a responsibility to regularly inspect, disinfect, and maintain these water systems to protect members and guests. When a gym fails to follow appropriate water management practices and someone contracts Legionnaires’ disease as a result, the facility owner or operator may be held liable for the injuries and damages caused by their negligence.
Healthcare facilities serve individuals who are often elderly or immunocompromised, the very people most vulnerable to Legionnaires’ disease. Because of this increased risk, hospitals and nursing homes are expected to follow strict water management procedures. Failing to monitor or disinfect their water systems can expose patients to life-threatening illness.
Office buildings, convention centers, shopping centers, and other commercial properties often have large plumbing systems that require routine inspection and maintenance. Property owners who neglect these systems may be responsible when visitors, tenants, or employees are exposed to contaminated water.
In some cases, the company hired to maintain cooling towers, plumbing systems, HVAC equipment, or water treatment systems may share responsibility if negligent maintenance contributed to the outbreak.
Every Legionnaires’ disease case is unique. Our attorneys work with environmental experts, engineers, and medical professionals to determine exactly where exposure occurred and identify every party whose negligence contributed to the illness.
We’ll fight for the compensation you deserve.
When filing a Legionnaires’ disease claim, several types of medical expenses can be recovered, including:
Victims may also recover expenses for specialized equipment, in-home caregiving, or transportation to medical appointments. These costs aim to cover immediate financial burdens and future healthcare needs, ensuring individuals can manage unexpected expenses, access vital care, and achieve long-term medical, emotional, and economic stability.
Comprehensive documentation and expert testimony are key to proving a Legionnaires’ disease claim. Medical records that confirm the diagnosis and link it to Legionella exposure serve as foundational evidence. Equally important are environmental testing results from the suspected contamination site, such as water systems that reveal the presence of Legionella bacteria, which can further substantiate the claim.
Medical professionals and microbiologists can provide critical evidence linking exposure to the condition. Witnesses who were likewise exposed or affected might help bolster the case. Clear proof of carelessness in water system maintenance and precise records of the victim’s suffering and losses can help create a compelling compensation case.
At Armstrong Lee & Baker, we handle Legionnaires’ disease cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay no upfront costs or hourly attorney’s fees to hire our firm. We only get paid if we successfully recover compensation for you through a settlement or verdict.
This allows you to pursue justice without worrying about the cost of hiring an attorney while you’re already dealing with medical bills and other financial challenges. Your initial consultation is also free, so you can discuss your case with our team, understand your legal options, and decide how to move forward with no financial obligation.
A serious case of Legionnaires’ disease can result in lengthy hospital stays, permanent lung damage, lost income, and emotional distress. If your illness was caused by a negligent property owner, you may be entitled to recover compensation for both your financial losses and the impact the illness has had on your life.
Depending on your case, damages may include compensation for:
At Armstrong Lee & Baker, we work with medical experts and financial professionals to fully calculate both your current losses and the long-term costs associated with your illness, ensuring your claim reflects the true value of what you’ve suffered.
If you or a loved one has suffered from Legionnaires’ disease due to a property owner’s negligence, you have the right to seek justice. At Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP, we have the experience and resources to hold those responsible accountable and fight for the compensation you deserve. Our personal injury attorneys understand the complexities of these cases—from medical challenges to environmental factors—and are dedicated to protecting your rights. We work relentlessly to ensure negligent property owners answer for their actions.
Time matters—call us now at 832-709-1124 or contact us online for a free consultation. Let our team fight for your rights and the compensation you deserve.
Scott Armstrong is the Managing Partner and co-founder of Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP. Known for his strategic insight and relentless pursuit of justice, Scott personally guides the firm’s approach to complex cases, including catastrophic injuries, vehicle accidents, workplace injuries, and product liability. His leadership has created a culture where excellence, innovation, and dedication to client success are paramount, and his influence is evident in every case the firm handles, often resulting in hundreds of millions recovered for clients.
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