Sick with Legionnaires’?
Call (612) 337-6126
Elliot Olsen has decades of experience representing people harmed by Legionnaires’ disease, and he has regained millions of dollars for them. If you or a family member became ill after staying at The Sands Resort, please call (612) 337-6126 for a free consultation, or complete the following:
Two Massachusetts women who say they contracted Legionnaires’ disease after staying at The Sands Resort in Hampton, NH, have sued the hotel and its principals.
According to court documents, Louise M. Pare of Gardner and Celeste M. Billington of Templeton are seeking a jury trial and unspecified damages.
The lawsuit – filed in Rockingham County Superior Court in Brentwood, NH – claims negligence by The Sands Resort in cleaning and operating the hot tub and spa area of the resort, located at 32 Ashworth Avenue along Hampton Beach, a popular tourist destination.
The suit also claims that issues associated with the water distribution systems at the hotel resulted in the two contracting Legionnaires’ disease.
Sands Resort Management Co. Inc., Andrew Escamilla, Daniel Emerson, Aqua Paradise Pools and Spas, and Sands Realty Trust members Leonard J. Samia, Thomas Saab and Edward Saab are listed as defendants in the lawsuit, which claims negligence and a failure to warn residents of the problem.
Two Massachusetts women have filed a lawsuit against The Sands Resort in Hampton, NH, claiming they contracted Legionnaires’ disease while staying at the hotel. Fifteen people have become ill in a Legionnaires’ outbreak in Hampton, and one victim has died.
The Sands Resort: damages claimed
According to court documents, Pare and Billington rented condominium unit 224 at The Sands Resort on August 3-5. The lawsuit claims Pare got “chills” on August 5 and woke up in the early-morning hours of August 6 “soaked in sweat.”
The lawsuit states Billington also became sick the night of August 5, and both women were diagnosed with legionellosis, another name for Legionnaires’ disease.
In the lawsuit, both women claim they sustained damages, including “medical expenses, loss of income, severe pain and mental suffering” as a result of their illnesses.
The Sands Resort: 15 ill in outbreak
On Sept. 5, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) Division of Public Health Services (DPHS) announced the addition of one case of Legionnaires’ disease, increasing the Legionnaires disease outbreak total to 15.
At least 12 of those sickened have been hospitalized, and one victim – a senior citizen – passed away.
The Sands Resort: Legionella found
On Sept. 2, state health officials announced that preliminary testing showed increased levels of Legionella – the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease – in numerous areas at The Sands Resort:
- hot tub
- water heater
- outdoor shower hose
- sinks and shower heads in three guest rooms.
Nine of the 15 victims in the outbreak were guests at The Sands Resort.
The Sands Resort: disease info
In addition to legionellosis, Legionnaires’ disease is also known as Legionella pneumonia. The disease is similar to other types of pneumonia, which is an infection of the air sacs in one or both lungs that can produce fluid in the lungs.
Legionellosis symptoms
Symptoms of the disease can also resemble those of influenza (flu), and they generally begin with:
- chills and fever, which can be 104 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
- severe headaches
- muscle pains.
By the second or third day, more symptoms develop, such as:
- cough, which can bring up mucus and blood
- difficulty breathing (dyspnea)
- chest pains
- gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, etc.)
- confusion and other mental difficulties.
High-risk categories
Anyone can become sick from Legionella, but those most susceptible to infection from the bacteria include:
- people 50 years old or older
- smokers, current and former
- people with chronic lung disease (COPD)
- heavy drinkers of alcoholic beverages
- people with compromised immune systems
- recipients of organ transplants
- people on specific drug protocols (for example, corticosteroids).
Numerous possible sources
Legionella grow best in warm water, and they are found primarily in human-made environments. Outbreaks have been linked to a number of sources, such as:
- hot tubs, swimming pools, and whirlpools
- large water systems (hotels, hospitals, nursing homes, etc.)
- cooling towers of air conditioning systems
- large plumbing systems
- bathroom faucets and showers
- hot water tanks and heaters
- physical-therapy equipment
- mist machines (produce sections of grocery stores, etc.)
- hand-held sprayers
- decorative fountains.
