As many as 20 individuals—almost three times the official number—may have succumbed to the recent Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in the city due to misdiagnoses, according to the attorney representing four deceased victims who submitted notices of claims on Tuesday.
The Rev. Al Sharpton and attorney Ben Crump, who jointly represent 35 surviving victims and the families of the deceased in the Harlem episode, assert that many of those affected were misdiagnosed as having pneumonia rather than Legionnaires’ disease.
“Lives have been lost due to this outbreak, and we think the death toll is being underestimated,” Crump stated, suggesting that up to 20 individuals could have died from the disease, far exceeding the seven officially reported by state authorities.
“They keep finding ways to cover it up,” he remarked about the officials handling the situation.
Numerous victims reportedly were not provided with appropriate diagnostic testing, despite displaying obvious symptoms.
“If they can ignore this here, it raises concerns about what else might be overlooked elsewhere,” Sharpton added, questioning how many individuals remained untested for Legionnaires’ disease and could have been saved.
Nearly 20 people have filed notices of claims against the city, amounting to a potential $210 million liability due to outbreaks at four city-owned construction sites, according to the attorneys involved.
At least four wrongful death lawsuits are currently being prepared against the city, with Crump anticipating more to follow.
One of the deceased, Bruce Scott, was a father and husband whose passing has been a profound loss for his wife, Lakisha Plowden, and their daughter, Brooke, who cherished the time spent with him, according to family statements.
“He left home for an ambulance and never returned,” Plowden recalled about her husband.
“The next thing I knew, he was in the hospital with a tube down his throat.”
“He was an amazing man,” Plowden shared. “He was a terrific father.”
The city took an entire month to inform her that her husband had actually died from Legionnaires’ disease, after doctors and his death certificate initially attributed his passing to pneumonia.
“She deserves justice,” Plowden stated about her daughter. “My child needs to understand why her father is gone.”
Nikia Bryant reported that it took a week for the city to notify her that her aunt Rachel Tew, aged 80, died from Legionnaires’ disease in early August.
Gloria Cooley expressed that she had to advocate relentlessly for her mother, June, to be tested for Legionnaires’ disease, enduring a two-week hospital stay as doctors insisted it was pneumonia.
“I had to continuously push for her to be tested,” Cooley recounted, as doctors dismissed her concerns.
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“They were disregarding my worries, but I stayed determined because something felt wrong,” Cooley remarked.
As of Tuesday, a third lawsuit has been filed against the city’s contractor, Skanska USA, by a worker who reported becoming ill while working at the New York City Public Health Laboratory site near Harlem Hospital.
Attorney Jarred Scotto asserted that both the city and its contractor failed to properly assess and maintain the cooling towers, and that Skanska neglected to register a new tower installed at Harlem Hospital.
Since the tower was allegedly never registered, it was not inspected, allowing conditions conducive to the disease to persist.
“Legionnaires’ disease presents a foreseeable risk if cooling towers aren’t routinely checked and cleaned,” Scotto added. “We truly need to ascertain what other necessary measures were not taken.”
A Skanska representative expressed condolences to all families impacted by the recent Legionnaires’ outbreak but declined to provide further comment on ongoing litigation.
Sharpton also urged mayoral candidates to take this matter seriously and integrate it into their campaigns.
“They all come here seeking support,” Sharpton asserted. “I am advocating for support for these affected families.”
