Legionnaires' Disease Lawyer

Governor Murphy of the State of New Jersey has recently signed a law (https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2024/S2500/2188_R1.PDF)  which is probably the most far reaching and commendable piece of legislation dealing with the prevention of Legionnaire’s disease in the United States at this time. A major element of this proactive approach requires the New Jersey Department of Health to conduct an investigation of where someone has contracted the disease even for sporadic (not part of an outbreak) cases. This willingness to investigate even one case is a major change from the way investigations are currently conducted around the county by other state health departments. Normally, other departments require an outbreak (usually defined as two or more cases occurring within a limited time and geographic area) to have occurred before conducting an investigation. Even then, most health departments are reluctant to engage in such an investigation because of the limited resources they have.

The law is also important because it addresses what causes the dreaded disease in the water system beforehand rather than after someone has contracted the disease.  The New Jersey legislation requires water utilities before any outbreak to monitor, manage and treat the water delivered to home and commercial customers. It also requires some building owners to create and follow a water management plan consistent with ASHRAE 188, which is a national guideline.

Under the legislation, the Health Department is also required to create a public database with the location of current Legionnaires’ disease cases. Finally, the law establishes a public education campaign focusing on raising awareness of this sometimes deadly but eminently preventable disease.