COLUMBIA — Three factory workers who were part of a large industrial outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease are suing the equipment maker identified as the source of the harmful bacteria and those who were hired to clean and disinfect the machine and the surrounding area.

Former employee Jahmil Pugh filed suit Aug. 22 in Richland County Court of Common Pleas. Two others are expected to file their own lawsuits soon, said Columbia attorney Ramie Shalabi.

The suits are being filed separately, rather than a class-action, because the injuries and ongoing problems are different and deserve to be considered on their own, he said.

The three were among 34 sickened by Legionnaires’ at the Trane factory in Columbia in 2022. The outbreak sent 15 people to a hospital and resulted in two deaths. The worke

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