NEW YORK, August 3, 2026 — Following the seventh death linked to the ongoing Upper East Side Legionnaires' disease outbreak, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has declared the outbreak over, but a New York attorney representing victims of Legionnaires’ and their loved ones says, for those affected by the outbreak, that is not the case.

According to the city’s Health Department, seven people have died, 92 have been diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease and five people remain hospitalized. City inspectors have tested 183 cooling towers at 160 buildings. Seventy-seven cooling towers at 75 buildings tested positive for Legionella. Of those, 59 cooling towers at 58 buildings have since been cleaned and disinfected. The city also announced on July 31 that the outbreak has ended.

Attorney Ronald J. Katter of Katter Law Firm represents six clients from the area. One of those clients is Ida Goldstein, the widow of an 88-year-old retired businessman and Air Force veteran who died during the outbreak. Katter said they plan to sue the owner of the cooling tower identified by health officials as the source of the outbreak.

"It's something you don't see, an invisible monster, a vapor that just went into his lungs and just took him away from me," Goldstein said.

Katter said his clients live in complete fear of being sickened. “They are walking in their own neighborhoods not knowing when or how they or their neighbors might contract this disease,” he said. “They are questioning how their landlords and the city could have allowed this to happen, and residents are calling to ask whether it is safe to remain in their apartments. The city and the cooling tower owners have eliminated people's sense of safety in their own homes.”

He also said there will be no closure for his clients. “The city may say it’s over, but for those sickened or who lost a loved one, their pain and suffering will endure,” he said.

If you or someone you know has been sickened or injured as a result of Legionnaires’ disease, contact the “Legionnaires’ Lawyer” — Ronald Katter. Mr. Katter and his firm will help you protect your rights and get the compensation you deserve. To schedule a free consultation, contact us at (212) 809-4293 or visit our contact page.

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About The Katter Law Firm
The Katter Law Firm is a premier New York City personal injury and medical malpractice law firm specializing in public health negligence and Legionella outbreak litigation. Founder Ronald J. Katter and his team are dedicated to holding negligent property owners and public entities accountable to secure just compensation for victims of preventable illnesses.