Lawsuit blames unplugged computer and faulty valve for deadly NYC Legionnaires outbreak

In Manhattan Supreme Court, four laborers filed a $40 million suit against New York City and Skanska, asserting that the water-quality monitoring computer at the Harlem Public Health Lab tower was never connected to the internet, so the automated system could not issue real-time warnings. The complaint adds that a broken valve physically blocked the tower’s ability to purge dirty water, creating conditions for Legionella bacteria to thrive.

Documents reveal that chlorine levels fell below normal for several days in mid-July, giving the pathogen time to multiply. The city’s health department report also highlighted a complex engineering design and faulty startup procedures as contributing factors. Skanska reportedly began using the tower in May without notifying the city and only registered it after the outbreak in late July. The lawsuit seeks accountability for the deaths and illnesses linked to the tower, which was located next to Harlem Hospital, whose own water system also played a role.