The threat of litigation is present whenever the presence of Legionella bacteria results in
illness. Liability may arise against a variety of defendants and under a number of different
legal theories. While there is no sure way to protect against liability, an examination of the
current legal landscape should provide guidance on how to deal with this threat. This paper
will survey potential liability issues associated with an outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease.
Specifically, it will review reported case law to date, focusing on those cases involving tort and
contract law issues. It will examine not only the issues involved and how the courts handled
them, but also what actions by the defendants precipitated the lawsuits. Additionally, there will
be a discussion of how various agencies, both government and private, have handled the
concerns surrounding Legionella. Finally, there will be an analysis of the costs and benefits
associated with implementing risk minimization plans and conducting “due diligence”.