New Jersey health officials have documented seven Legionnaires’ disease cases associated with The Fountains of Atco, a senior living community at 114 Hayes Mill Road in Atco, New Jersey. The cases span 2011 through 2026. All seven people were hospitalized, and three residents died, according to the New Jersey Department of Health’s August 12, 2026 enforcement order.
The state restricted admissions in August after identifying repeated Legionella contamination and failures to follow water management recommendations. An October 13 order allowed admissions to resume after temporary safeguards were implemented, while keeping the facility’s corrective requirements in effect.
When a parent, spouse or other loved one develops Legionnaires’ disease, the consequences can extend beyond hospitalization to rehabilitation, additional care and lasting health problems. Pritzker Hageman’s national Legionnaires’ disease lawyers help people and families pursue accountability and compensation for preventable infections.
If your family member was diagnosed after living at or visiting The Fountains of Atco, call 1-888-377-8900 or text 612-261-0856 for a free consultation.
Were you or a loved one sickened by Legionnaires’ Disease?
What Did New Jersey Find at The Fountains of Atco?
The August order describes years of Legionella detections and repeated recommendations to improve the building’s water system. The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) concluded that the facility’s failure to implement public health water management recommendations created an immediate and serious risk of harm to residents.
Among the findings described in the order:
- Legionella returned after chemical treatment in August 2025. The state said the facility had not demonstrated a comprehensive assessment of the conditions allowing the bacteria to grow.
- Laboratory reports in February, April and June 2026 continued to identify Legionella in the water system.
- Inspectors found shower filters that were missing, expired or inconsistently maintained across skilled nursing, assisted living and independent living areas.
- The facility had not consistently tested previously positive locations to confirm that corrective measures worked.
- During a May 2026 visit, inspectors observed an unplugged hot-water recirculation pump and a closed return-loop valve in the assisted living area, creating conditions that allowed water to stagnate.
Water safety depends on identifying and correcting the conditions that allow Legionella to persist throughout a building. The order describes deficiencies in that process, including maintenance, follow-up testing and communication with staff responsible for infection prevention.
How Many Legionnaires’ Disease Cases Were Reported?
The state’s case table lists six residents and one visitor over a 15-year period.
- 2011 through 2014: Three residents were hospitalized. The independent living resident whose illness occurred in 2014 died.
- 2018: A long-term care resident was hospitalized and died.
- 2022: An assisted living resident was hospitalized and died.
- 2024: An independent living resident was hospitalized.
- 2026: A visitor who reported regularly visiting the facility during the period before illness was hospitalized. NJDOH received the case report on May 11, 2026.
NJDOH began its first investigation in 2014, another in 2018, and the most recent investigation after the 2022 case. The 2024 resident case and 2026 visitor case were identified during that most recent investigation. The order does not report final outcomes for the four people whose entries do not list a death.
Why Were Admissions Allowed to Resume?
NJDOH’s October 13, 2026 order lifting the admissions restriction recognized temporary control measures and initial remediation steps. It did not declare that the entire water system had been cleared of Legionella.
The order credits the facility with installing filters on sinks and showers in occupied patient and resident rooms, training staff, implementing notification procedures, and retaining engineering, water-treatment and infection-control assistance. These measures allowed admissions and readmissions to resume while the facility continued working to address the contamination.
According to the order, the facility must provide written notice before a new or returning patient or resident is admitted. The notice must explain the contamination, deaths, ongoing investigation, protective measures and actions being taken to reduce risk. The state also reserved the right to reinstate the admissions restriction if the facility fails to meet its requirements.
As of November 13, 2026, the October 13 order is the latest Fountains of Atco order listed on NJDOH’s health facility enforcement page. The health department advises families to request the facility’s current written water-use instructions and discuss precautions specific to their loved one with the care team.
How Can a Senior Living Water System Spread Legionnaires’ Disease?
Legionnaires’ disease is a serious form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria. People usually become infected by breathing in small water droplets containing the bacteria.
Older adults, current or former smokers, and people with chronic lung disease or weakened immune systems are more susceptible to Legionnaires’ disease. Building water systems require particular attention in settings where residents have these risk factors.
What Should Families Do After a Legionnaires’ Diagnosis?
Tell the treating clinician that your loved one lived at or visited The Fountains of Atco and provide the relevant dates. Legionnaires’ disease can resemble other types of pneumonia, so specific laboratory testing is needed to identify the infection.
Cough, fever, shortness of breath, headache and muscle aches are common symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease. Confusion, diarrhea or nausea can also occur. Symptoms usually begin 2 to 14 days after exposure, although they can develop later. Seek medical care promptly for symptoms after a possible exposure.
After a Legionnaires’ disease diagnosis, it is important to document the illness and possible exposure for a legal investigation. Keep hospital and laboratory records, admission and discharge dates, room or apartment information, visitor calendars, water notices, emails, medical bills and records of additional care needs. You do not need to gather every record before speaking with an attorney.
Can a Family Sue a Nursing Home for Legionnaires’ Disease?
Yes. A person who developed Legionnaires’ disease after exposure at a nursing home or senior care facility can pursue a case when the evidence establishes that negligent water management or another legally responsible party’s failure caused the infection. A diagnosis after a stay or visit is a reason to investigate, but it does not by itself establish where the infection occurred.
For families considering a Legionnaires’ disease lawsuit involving a nursing home or care facility, the health department’s investigation can provide important evidence about contamination, prior warnings and corrective measures. An individual case also requires medical records, exposure history and evidence connecting the illness to the facility.
Our attorneys work with medical and water-system experts to examine when exposure occurred, whether the person had other potential exposures, and what the companies responsible for the water system knew and did. Determining responsibility for Legionnaires’ disease exposure can involve the facility owner, operator, property manager or contractors whose work contributed to unsafe conditions. The evidence determines which parties should be held accountable.
A Legionnaires’ disease lawsuit can seek compensation for medical expenses and other losses, including rehabilitation, future care, lost income where applicable, and pain and suffering. If the infection caused a death, our attorneys can evaluate Legionnaires’ disease wrongful death claims.
Legal Help for Legionnaires’ Disease
Pritzker Hageman represents people nationwide who have suffered serious Legionnaires’ disease infections and families who have lost loved ones. Our attorneys investigate contaminated water systems, identify responsible companies and pursue compensation that accounts for the full impact of the illness.
If your loved one developed Legionnaires’ disease after living at or visiting The Fountains of Atco, call 1-888-377-8900 or tell us about the illness through our Legionnaires’ disease case consultation form. We can review the circumstances, explain the legal options and help your family take the next step toward accountability.
Contact Eric today and find out how you can get compensation and justice
1-888-377-8900 (Toll-Free) | [email protected]
Questions About Legal Help After Legionnaires’ Disease
Yes. You can contact our firm to discuss your loved one’s illness and the circumstances of the exposure. If your loved one cannot participate, our attorneys can explain what authorization is needed to obtain records and who can act on their behalf.
Yes. A visitor can have a case if evidence shows that exposure to negligently managed water at the property caused the infection. Residency is not a requirement. The Atco order includes a hospitalized visitor among the seven associated cases.
Filing deadlines called statutes of limitations depend on the claim and its circumstances. Contact an attorney promptly so the applicable deadlines and evidence-preservation needs can be evaluated.
The consultation is free. Our firm handles Legionnaires’ disease cases on a contingency fee basis, so you pay no legal fee unless we recover compensation for you.
Additional Information About Legionnaires’ Disease
- Legionnaires’ Disease Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Where Does Legionnaires’ Disease Come From?
- Legionnaires’ Disease: Symptoms and Diagnosis
- What to do if You Contract Legionnaires’ Disease
- Legionnaires’ Disease: Determining Liability
- Legionnaires’ Disease: Lawsuits and Compensation
- Legionnaires’ Disease: Wrongful Death Cases
- Finding a Legionnaires’ Disease Lawyer
- Filing a Legionnaires’ Disease Lawsuit
- The Importance of Water Management Plans
We have obtained 100+ separate verdicts and settlements greater than $1 million:
We obtained this result on behalf of three people sickened in a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak at a resort hotel.
We obtained this settlement on behalf of six people impacted by a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak linked to a hotel hot tub.
Our client contracted Legionnaires’ disease at a hotel and was hospitalized for eight weeks.
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On behalf of a client sicked from contaminated water at a senior care facility.
Our client contracted Legionnaires’ disease at a hotel and was hospitalized for over a month.
On behalf of a women hospitalized for over two months from a contaminated hotel hot tub in Myrtle Beach.
We obtained this settlement for a woman sickened with Legionnaires’ disease after being exposed in a hotel hot tub.
We obtained this settlement for the family of a 52-year old man who died of Legionnaires’ disease linked to a hotel.
We collected this on behalf of a client who contracted Legionnaires’ disease from contaminated water at a hotel.
We recovered this settlement for the family of a 50-year old man who died of Legionnaires’ disease after being exposed to legionella bacteria at a hotel.
Collected on behalf of the family of a man who died as a result of Legionnaires’ Disease contracted while staying at a Wisconsin resort.
We obtained this on behalf of a man hospitalized after Legionella bacteria exposure at a hotel.
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