Alabama Couple Sues Kentucky Motel Owners for $5M Over Illness

An Alabama woman has filed suit seeking $5 million from the owners of a Kentucky motel where she says she was infected with Legionnaire’s disease.

Vera Ann Johnson and husband John Allen Johnson of Wedowee filed suit in circuit court in Anniston against Umesh and Mallika Patel of Oxford.

The lawsuit says the Patels own a Budget Inn Express where the woman was infected with Legionnaire’s disease in Ashland, Ky., in April.

The Patels said the lawsuit is baseless and contend the woman has longstanding health problems.

The Anniston Star reported that the lawsuit claims the woman developed Legionnaires’ disease from bacteria in an air conditioning unit in one of the motel’s rooms.

Umesh Patel said a technician found nothing wrong with the room after the couple complained.