Un trabajador del condado fue diagnosticado con la enfermedad del legionario tras el hallazgo de bacterias en la oficina del médico forense de Los Ángeles.

Legionella Was Discovered at the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office in May, but Employees Were Not Notified Until Later in the Year

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (28 de Octubre, 2026) – A Los Angeles County employee tested positive for Legionnaires’ disease after Legionella bacteria was found in a cooling system at the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles County officials are saying that the bacteria was discovered during maintenance on the cooling system in May. Employees in the affected buildings near downtown Los Angeles were notified later in the year, and the county’s Department of Public Health was later informed that one county employee had tested positive, Medical Daily reported.

Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia that people typically develop by breathing in mist or small droplets of water containing Legionella bacteria. Public health officials have not confirmed whether the employee’s illness is connected to the cooling system.

The employee’s name, role, and current condition have not been released. Public Health said no additional cases have been identified among people with shared exposures to the employee, and a Medical Examiner’s spokesperson referred questions to health officials.

Cooling towers have been linked to serious Legionnaires’ outbreaks in California before. In 2015, contaminated cooling towers were blamed for sickening 81 inmates at San Quentin along with several employees, and in 2017 Orange County health officials identified Disneyland cooling towers as the fuente probable of 22 cases.

County officials have not said which buildings were affected, what cleaning was done, or whether the system has been cleared for use. Employees and their families may want to know how much time passed between the May discovery and the notification of workers, and whether others in the building were offered testing.

Liability for Los Angeles Workplace Legionnaires’ Disease Exposure

When a worker becomes ill from exposure on the job in California, the workers’ compensation system is usually the first path to benefits, covering medical treatment and part of lost wages without requiring proof of fault. Under the California Supreme Court’s decision in LaTourette v. Workers’ Comp. Appeals Bd. (1998), a worker must show a reasonable probability that the illness arose out of and in the course of employment. Workers’ compensation is not always the end of the story, because Sección 3852 del Código Laboral preserves an employee’s right to pursue a separate claim against third parties, such as outside contractors responsible for maintaining building systems. Property owners, water treatment vendors, and maintenance companies can all bear responsibility when poorly managed water systems allow Legionella to grow. Responsibility in these cases often depends on several factors:

• Administracion del Agua: Building operators are expected to have a plan to monitor and control Legionella growth in cooling towers, plumbing, and other water systems.
• Mantenimiento de rutina: Cleaning, disinfection, and chemical treatment of cooling systems help keep bacteria from reaching dangerous levels.
• Testing Records: Water sampling results and maintenance logs often show when contamination was detected and how quickly it was addressed.
• Aviso oportuno: Prompt warnings allow workers to watch for symptoms and seek early medical care.
• Evidencia medica: Diagnostic testing and matching of bacterial strains can help connect an illness to a specific water source.

Courts have recognized that workplace Legionella exposure can support serious legal claims. In Connors v. Zurich American Insurance Co., a 2015 decision from the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, a foundry worker developed pneumonia caused by Legionella and alleged the bacteria came from the company’s cooling towers, which sat near fresh air intakes. The worker claimed the foundry negligently failed to maintain its cooling towers, and the foundry’s liability insurer argued its pollution exclusion barred coverage. The court reversed summary judgment for the insurer, holding that the exclusion was ambiguous as to whether Legionella counts as a pollutant, so a reasonable policyholder could expect coverage. The ruling shows how insurance coverage can play a key role in whether injured workers are able to recover compensation for these illnesses.

Preventing Legionnaires’ Disease in Workplace Water Systems

Legionnaires’ disease has become far more common over the past two decades. According to the CDC, reported legionellosis rose 286% from 2000 to 2014, and every building-associated outbreak the agency could fully evaluate during that period involved at least one water system maintenance problem. Cooling towers were linked to 22% of those outbreaks, and the median case fatality rate was 7%. Workers and building occupants can take several practical steps to protect themselves:

• Conozca los síntomas: Cough, fever, muscle aches, and shortness of breath after a possible exposure should be reported to a doctor promptly.
• Hacer preguntas: Employees can ask whether their building has a water management program and when its systems were last tested.
• Request Testing: Anyone with pneumonia symptoms who may have been exposed should ask their provider about Legionella-specific testing.
• Informar inquietudes: Workers can report unsafe workplace conditions to Cal/OSHA.
• Mantener registros: Notices, medical records, and work schedules can help document when and where exposure may have occurred.

Legionella is largely preventable when building owners and operators invest in proper water management. When those systems are neglected, people who simply show up to do their jobs can be exposed to a serious and sometimes life-threatening illness. Transparency about testing results and remediation helps employees make informed decisions about their health. Workers who become ill have the right to pursue workers’ compensation benefits and, in some cases, claims against outside parties responsible for maintenance. Accountability encourages safer buildings for everyone.

Investigating Legionnaires’ Disease Exposure in Los Angeles

Nosotros, en Ley Feher send our best wishes for a full recovery to the Los Angeles County employee who tested positive for Legionnaires’ disease after Legionella was found at the county Medical Examiner’s office. We hope county officials provide a clear account of the contamination and the steps taken to protect workers, and that stronger water management prevents similar exposures in public buildings. This case raises serious concerns about workplace safety. How quickly were employees told after the bacteria was found in May?

Have you or a loved one been affected by Legionnaires’ disease or another workplace illness in Los Angeles or elsewhere in Los Angeles County? You may have legal recourse. When a large public employer controls the building records, getting clear answers can be challenging. Our team of safety advocates and accident investigators can help you understand what happened, from water testing results and maintenance logs to notification records that show when workers were warned. If you need answers to legal questions or any other support, we’re here for you, and you can reach out to us anytime at (310) 340-1112.