Fifty plaintiffs who live, work or attend school in the narrow stretch of Spring Hill and Thompson’s Station are suing at least 20 construction companies they say failed to control dust that spread histoplasmosis, a serious fungal infection.

Families suffer lasting effects

The outbreak, which began in September 2025, has left families devastated. Liam O’Neal has been repeatedly hospitalized, Cami Carpenter withdrew from her classes, teen Eli Stinson reports constant exhaustion, and Kathleen York continues to battle symptoms. Alyssia Brown ultimately died from the infection.

“Mentally, you just feel like enough already,” York said. “I was ready to leave. This is awful,” Carpenter added. A parent of Liam O’Neal expressed the fear of losing their son, while Cari Stinson described the anguish of watching a loved one suffer.

Legal claims focus on dust‑control failures

Attorney Tiffany Carpenter argues the contractors violated Tennessee law, which requires companies engaged in soil‑disturbing activities to take reasonable steps to suppress fugitive dust. She outlined the expected measures: watering soil, covering it with tarp on windy days, and similar precautions.

“When those precautions are skipped, dust can become airborne and carry whatever harmful material is in the soil,” Carpenter said. “That is what happened here.”

Health officials and companies

The county health department has not identified a definitive source for the outbreak, but the plaintiffs contend the construction sites near their homes and schools are the likely cause.

NewsChannel 5 reached out to the named construction firms for comment; none have responded at the time of this report.

What this means for the community

The lawsuit underscores the importance of strict dust‑control practices in residential areas. Residents are urged to stay informed about construction activities near schools and homes and to report any concerns to local authorities.

Original reporting: NewsChannel 5 WTVF (Scripps) – local — read the source article.