We were instructed by a client who was diagnosed as having contracted Legionnaire’s Disease to pursue a holiday compensation claim. We were able to show that the disease was contracted whilst she was staying in her holiday accommodation in Greece. Our client booked a holiday with Olympic Holidays. The holiday was a package within the definition of the Package Travel Regulations and the claim was pursued against Olympic Holidays in the English courts.

When our client arrived in resort she was allocated accomodation in an area of the resort which was "run down" and looked disused. She later discovered that the area was used only when the remainder of the resort was full, to accommodate the "overbookings". The accomodation was so poor that on one occasion she was in the room and maggots started falling from a hole in the ceiling onto the bed below.

Whilst in resort, she contracted legionnare's disease, probably from the showerhead in the bathroom of the apartment. However, because the typical incubation period is between 2-10 days, it was not until she returned home that she began to feel unwell. When she did return, she was hospitalised and suffered from extreme fatigue for a significant period of time. As a result, she couldn't work or return to her usual life.

She is unlikely to make a total recovery, but has improved significantly from her holiday illness. We were able to prove that on the balance of probabilities, the disease was contracted in the holiday resort and that Olpmic Holidays were liablie. The claim was settled shortly after legal proceedings were issued for the sum of £18,000.