Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg
Eric Shane, a Leesfield & Partners Trial Attorney, secured a $4 million recovery in a Legionnaires’ disease case, marking the largest of its kind for a single plaintiff in U.S. History.
“I am proud of this result not because of the number, but because it represents justice and accountability,” Mr. Shane said. “The family trusted us to make sure their loved one’s death wasn’t in vain, and we take that responsibility seriously.”
Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by inhaling vaporized water contaminated with Legionella bacteria. Common sources of exposure include cooling towers, hot tubs, decorative fountains, showers and plumbing systems in large buildings. Those who are at greatest risk include older adults, smokers, and people with weakened immune systems or chronic lung conditions.
In this case, the source of the exposure was linked to the inadequately maintained hot tub at a Florida condominium community where our client’s loved one seasonally resided for over a decade before his death. Not only did the property and its pool maintenance company fail to properly monitor the hot tub’s water system for the dangerous bacteria, but it also failed to maintain this system in such a way that would have prevented the growth of Legionella bacteria.
No water management plan was in place to regularly test or properly sanitize the condominium’s water systems. Per Florida law, this constitutes a failure to maintain safe and sanitary water conditions, placing residents and guests at increased risk for Legionnaires’ disease and other waterborne illnesses. Sadly, our client’s loved one contracted Legionnaires’ disease as a result of this failure.
Within a few days of using the hot tub, our client’s loved one presented with symptoms of Legionnaires’ Disease, including fever and fatigue. He later went to the hospital to seek medical treatment. He would ultimately succumb to his injuries after spending the last month of his life in the hospital.
“This was a heartbreaking case because it never should have happened,” Mr. Shane said. “Legionnaires’ disease is entirely preventable when hotels and condominiums follow proper maintenance and safety protocols. This is especially true when the source of the bacteria is from a hot tub. No family should have to lose a loved one the way this family did.”
Leesfield & Partners
For 49 years, Leesfield & Partners has diligently represented countless clients in Legionnaires’ disease cases against hotels, property management companies, resorts, pool maintenance companies, and other entities. This landmark result reflects the firm’s unwavering commitment to securing accountability for injured clients and their grieving families.
Legionnaires’ Disease was first identified in 1976 following an outbreak of pneumonia in Philadelphia at a convention for the American Legion, according to the Florida Department of Health. More than 200 people became ill and at least 34 people died as a result of being exposed to the Legionella bacteria. The purported source in that instance was likely the hotel’s air conditioning cooling towers.
There are 8,000 to 18,000 confirmed hospitalizations due to Legionnaires’ disease every year in the U.S. The latest available data in Florida shows the rate of Legionnaires’ Disease to be 2.4 per every 10,000 people, according to the FDOH. In 2020, the state accounted for nearly 60% of reported Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks in the United States and 38% of outbreaks in health care facilities around the country, according to reporting from the Tampa Bay Times. In 2024, the newspaper reported that cases of the disease were rising, particularly in Florida health care facilities.
While this dangerous bacteria continues to thrive in medical facilities, hotels, resorts, and other properties that fail to properly maintain their water systems, Leesfield & Partners remains steadfast in promoting awareness and holding negligent entities accountable.
“Our firm will continue to fight to ensure property owners and management companies are held accountable when they fail to maintain their facilities in accordance with longstanding and accepted health and safety laws and standards,” Mr. Shane said.
Previous Cases
Mr. Shane previously settled a Legionnaires’ Disease case that resulted in a $500,000 settlement after a condominium resident contracted the disease following use of the community’s hot tub.
In another Legionnaires’ Disease case, also handled by Mr. Shane, a woman was exposed to the bacteria at a Florida hotel. Throughout her stay, our client regularly used a hot tub on the property. On the same day as checkout, the woman began experiencing symptoms such as swelling and fever. After doctors diagnosed her with the disease, she went into septic shock and suffered an acute kidney injury.
In an investigation, it was discovered that the hotel failed to maintain the hot tub in accordance with industry standards. Our client continues to suffer from pain and fatigue. A $300,000 recovery amount was secured for the woman in that case.
Previously, the firm settled two cases of Legionnaires’ Disease resulting from the same resort. The plaintiffs in those cases were unrelated and were not staying at the resort at the same time. Leesfield & Partners’ Founder and Managing Partner, Ira Leesfield, along with other attorneys at the firm were able to prove that the resort did not properly maintain or sanitize water systems that fueled multiple decorative fountains on the property.
A six-figure settlement for each client was reached in those cases.
Another Leesfield & Partners client was represented by Mr. Shane after they were exposed to the Legionella bacteria during their stay at an Airbnb. That case settled for six figures.
If you or a loved one were exposed to Legionella bacteria and believe you may have a claim, don’t wait. Call a Leesfield & Partners attorney today at 800-836-6400.
