Man sues New York hotel named as source of deadly Legionnaires' disease outbreak

A man who spent several days in a hospital after coming down with Legionnaires' disease has filed a civil lawsuit against the New York City hotel identified by authorities as the source of the deadly outbreak.

Leslie Noble's lawsuit against the Opera House Hotel says its "negligence, carelessness and recklessness" caused him physical pain and mental anguish.

The disease is caused when water contaminated with a certain bacteria is inhaled into the lungs.

The city's health commissioner says the hotel's rooftop air conditioning unit was the source of the outbreak, which sickened 128 people and killed 12.

A spokesman for the Bronx hotel says it cooperated fully to resolve the issue. He says it was expected lawsuits would arise.

Noble is a 54-year-old security guard. His lawsuit was filed last week and seeks unspecified damages.