Attorney Ben Crump To File Four Lawsuits Against City Of New York Over Deadly Harlem Legionnaires’ Outbreak

Photos: YouTube Screenshots NEW YORK, N.Y. (August 5, 2026) – Rev. Al Sharpton, Founder and President of the National Action Network (NAN), Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump and co-counsel Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C. will join victims and families of victims of the 2025 Central Harlem Legionnaires’ disease outbreak at a news conference Thursday. They will announce the filing of four lawsuits against the City of New York, NYC Health + Hospitals, and the contractors responsible for maintaining the cooling towers linked to the outbreak. In July 2025, New York City health officials identified an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in Central Harlem. Officials ultimately confirmed 118 cases and seven deaths, and traced the bacteria to cooling towers in the neighborhood, including those at Harlem Hospital and the New York City Public Health Lab at 40 W. 137th St.  According to the lawsuits, the defendants failed to properly test, treat, and maintain the cooling towers, failed to comply with state and city cooling tower regulations, and failed to warn the public of the danger. The suits seek damages for serious and permanent personal injury, emotional distress, economic loss, and wrongful death claims. WHO: Impacted victims and their families Rev. Al Sharpton, founder and president, National Action Network and Attorney Ben Crump Attorney Nabeha Shaer, Ben Crump Law Attorney Jared Scotto, Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C. Attorney Ilana Wolk, Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C. Attorney Avelino Garcia, Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C. Felicia Unger, Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C. WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026 11 a.m. ET WHERE: National Action Network House of Justice 6 Hancock Place Harlem, NY 10027 For more information, visit bencrump.com. For more information, visit www.nationalactionnetwork.net