Napa Hotel's Legionnaires' Outbreak Trial

0:00It's April 20th. You're listening to California News today, AI-powered local news. A wrongful death lawsuit from a Legionnaire's disease outbreak in downtown Napa back in 2022 is set to hit trial next week. The bacteria from a hotel's cooling tower and decorative pond sickened 16 people and killed one local resident. The suit was filed in January 2023 by the Family of David Ward, a 66-year-old who fell ill on July 23rd and passed away. Five days later, in intensive care, Ward lived right near the former Embassy Suites by Hilton Napa Valley, now rebranded as Casa Manny Resort after a remodel. Folks are pointing fingers at the hotel owners, Hilton affiliates, and maintenance companies like Kemakwa for negligence and creating a public. Health Hazard. The pond and tower allegedly spewed bacteria-laden mist into the neighborhood during July and August. Investigators claim these groups skipped routine water tests for years. They have sloppy records and dragged their feet on fixes even as cases piled up.

1:04They only cooperated after county health officials slapped them with a legal order. With Hilton's thing mum on the pending case, this trial could shine a light on how hotels handle hidden dangers in their systems, pushing for better. Lifeguards, down the line.