Legionnaires’ Disease in Schools and Universities: Can Schools Be Held Liable in New York?
Protecting Students, Faculty, Staff, and Visitors from Preventable Legionnaires’ Disease
Schools, colleges, and universities are expected to provide safe learning environments, yet one of the most significant health risks on campus may be hidden inside the building’s water system. Educational institutions often operate extensive plumbing networks, residence halls, athletic facilities, cooling towers, cafeterias, laboratories, and other infrastructure that must be properly inspected and maintained to prevent the growth of Legionella bacteria. Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of bacterial pneumonia that develops after inhaling contaminated water droplets. Although younger, healthy students generally face a lower risk of severe illness, campuses also serve faculty, staff, graduate students, visitors, and individuals with underlying medical conditions who may be especially vulnerable. When negligent maintenance allows Legionella bacteria to spread, injured victims may have the right to seek compensation.
If you or someone you love developed Legionnaires’ disease because of exposure at a school, college, or university, Greenstein & Pittari, LLP is prepared to investigate your claim, preserve critical evidence, and pursue every responsible party. Call 1-800-VICTIM2 (1-800-842-8462) for a free consultation. There is no attorney’s fee unless we recover compensation for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get Legionnaires’ disease at a school or university?
Yes. Educational institutions often contain large plumbing systems, dormitory showers, residence halls, locker rooms, athletic facilities, swimming pools, campus cooling towers, laboratories, cafeterias, decorative fountains, and hot water storage systems. If these water systems are not properly maintained, Legionella bacteria can grow and spread through contaminated water droplets. College campuses present unique challenges because many buildings experience reduced occupancy during summer breaks and holidays, allowing water to stagnate if flushing and recommissioning procedures are not properly followed.
Why are schools and universities vulnerable to Legionella contamination?
Many campuses consist of multiple interconnected buildings served by extensive plumbing systems. Aging infrastructure, water stagnation, fluctuating occupancy, infrequently used fixtures, warm water temperatures, cooling towers, corrosion, biofilm, and scale buildup can all contribute to conditions that allow Legionella bacteria to multiply. Athletic facilities, dormitories, and campus cooling towers require particular attention because they contain complex water systems that must be routinely inspected, treated, and maintained.
Who is most at risk for severe illness?
Although many students are young and healthy, schools also serve faculty members over 50, administrative staff, maintenance personnel, graduate students, visitors, and individuals with chronic lung disease, weakened immune systems, diabetes, kidney disease, cancer, or organ transplants. These individuals face a significantly greater risk of developing serious complications if exposed to Legionella bacteria.
What responsibilities do schools have to prevent Legionnaires’ disease?
Schools, colleges, and universities generally have a duty to maintain reasonably safe premises for students, employees, and lawful visitors. Responsible institutions often implement comprehensive water management programs that include routine inspections, preventive maintenance, water treatment, temperature monitoring, cooling tower maintenance, plumbing inspections, flushing procedures, written water management plans, maintenance documentation, contractor oversight, and prompt corrective action. Failures to properly maintain these systems may increase the risk of Legionella contamination.
Can a school, college, or university be held liable?
Possibly. Whether an educational institution is legally responsible depends on the specific facts of the case. A successful claim generally requires evidence showing that the institution owed a duty of care, failed to reasonably maintain its water systems, allowed Legionella bacteria to develop because of negligent maintenance, and that the exposure caused the victim’s illness and resulting damages. Depending on the circumstances, liability may also extend to private school owners, colleges, universities, property management companies, maintenance contractors, plumbing contractors, engineering consultants, water treatment companies, or cooling tower maintenance providers. Claims involving public educational institutions may also be subject to special notice requirements and shorter legal deadlines.
What evidence is important in these cases?
Legionnaires’ disease claims often depend on medical, environmental, and engineering evidence. Important records may include maintenance logs, water management plans, cooling tower inspection reports, plumbing schematics, environmental and Legionella testing, Department of Health investigations, engineering reports, contractor agreements, maintenance schedules, internal communications, and building inspection records. Our attorneys move quickly to preserve this evidence before it is altered or destroyed.
What compensation may be available?
Victims may be entitled to recover compensation for emergency medical treatment, hospitalization, rehabilitation, future medical care, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, permanent respiratory impairment, and reduced quality of life. If Legionnaires’ disease results in the death of a loved one, surviving family members may also have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim under New York law.
How much does it cost to hire Greenstein & Pittari, LLP?
Greenstein & Pittari represents Legionnaires’ disease victims on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront attorney’s fees, and you owe nothing unless we successfully recover compensation for you. We also provide free consultations so you can understand your legal rights without financial risk.
Why Choose Greenstein & Pittari, LLP?
Legionnaires’ disease litigation involving schools and universities requires experience with infectious disease medicine, environmental engineering, premises liability law, and, in some cases, the procedural rules governing claims against public educational institutions. Greenstein & Pittari, LLP works with respected medical, engineering, and campus facilities experts to determine how exposure occurred, preserve critical evidence, and hold negligent institutions accountable.
Whether your exposure occurred at a public school, private school, college, or university in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island, Long Island, Westchester County, or elsewhere in New York, we offer free consultations, bilingual legal services, personalized representation, and trial-ready advocacy dedicated exclusively to protecting injured New Yorkers.
If you or someone you love contracted Legionnaires’ disease after exposure to a contaminated school or university water system, call 1-800-VICTIM2 (1-800-842-8462) today for a free consultation.
Don’t Be a Victim Twice.