On Thursday, November 18, a jury awarded $4.5 million to two road department employees from Jefferson County who contracted Legionnaire’s disease after staying in Oxford at the Wingate Inn during May 2008, reports AL.com.
The two men were limb truck operators and had been sent to assist with tornado damage cleanup. They were guests at the Wingate Inn for two weeks, and returned home on May 30. Both men felt very sick, and one was taken to a local hospital that night. He suffered respiratory failure and was forced to be on a ventilator for two weeks. The other was hospitalized three days later and was also put on a ventilator. It was determined that both workers had contracted Legionnaire’s disease, more than likely by using the Inn’s hot tub.
A Jefferson County Department of Health official visited the Inn on June 5 and ordered the hot tub to be closed, returning to take samples of the water two days later. However, the hot tub had been chlorinated and vacuumed, which was in direct violation of the directions the health department official had specified. The official was also given a log of daily inspections that appeared to be fake. At trial, the lawyers for the plaintiffs were given a different inspection log for the same date range, and this daily log also appeared to be falsified.
Each victim was awarded $1.5 million in compensatory damages as well as $750,000 in punitive damages in the Legionnaire’s disease lawsuit.
Legionnaire’s disease is a type of pneumonia that is caused by the bacteria Legionella penumophilia, which lives in moist conditions. Legionnaire’s disease is very serious, and affects between 10,000 and 50,000 Americans each year, killing between five and 30 percent of those infected. Symptoms of the disease are similar to the flu, and include fever, chills, cough, nausea, aching muscles, delirium, diarrhea, fatigue, headache, and excessive tiredness. If you are suffering from any of these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.
If you believe you contracted Legionnaire’s disease because of a contaminated water system, contact the Law Offices of Steven H. Heisler, “The Injury Lawyer.” Our skilled and experienced attorneys have dealt with many Legionnaire’s disease lawsuits and can help you win compensatory damages from any negligent person who caused your injury. Call our Legionnaire’s disease lawyers today at 877-228-4878 for a free consultation of your case.
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