Two Bronx Sisters Awarded $1.75 Million After Landlord’s Alleged Neglect Causes Lead Poisoning and Developmental Delays
Settlement Resolves Claims Against Private Landlord for Toxic Lead Paint Exposure in Family Apartment
Families Concerned About Lead Exposure in Their Homes Encouraged to Seek Free Legal Consultation
BRONX, N.Y., May 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Frankel Law Firm announced today that a childhood lead poisoning lawsuit filed in New York State Supreme Court, Bronx County, has been settled for $1.75 million. The settlement compensates two young sisters who suffered lead poisoning and resulting developmental injuries after chronic exposure to lead-based paint hazards in their Bronx residential apartment.
This settlement ensures that two children whose early development was disrupted by entirely preventable landlord negligence will have the resources necessary to access specialized education, medical care, and support services.
The infant plaintiffs were exposed to dangerous levels of lead paint in their home when they were just three and two years old, resulting in blood lead levels reaching 21 and 6 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL)—six times and nearly twice the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s reference level of 3.5 µg/dL, respectively. Both children sustained developmental delays and will require special educational support.
The lawsuit alleged that the property owner negligently maintained the residential premises and failed to comply with New York City’s Local Law 1 of 2004, which mandates strict protocols for investigating and remediating lead-based paint hazards in residential buildings where young children reside. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) issued a violation documenting the presence of lead paint hazards in the apartment, establishing the defendant’s failure to maintain safe living conditions.
“This settlement represents justice for two sisters whose early childhoods were marked by preventable lead exposure,” said Reuven Frankel, an attorney for the plaintiffs. “Landlords have a legal and moral obligation to maintain safe, lead-free homes for families with young children. When they fail to do so, they must be held accountable.”
The case was resolved through extensive negotiations at private mediation.
Lead poisoning remains a persistent public health crisis in New York City, particularly affecting children in older housing stock. Even low levels of lead exposure can cause irreversible developmental delays, learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and other serious health consequences. The settlement will provide necessary resources for the children’s ongoing medical care, educational support, and future needs stemming from the lead-induced injuries.
Parents Should Watch for These Warning Signs
Lead poisoning often goes undetected because symptoms can be subtle or mistaken for other conditions. Parents should be alert to developmental delays, difficulty concentrating, learning problems, irritability, loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue, and abdominal pain.
Free Case Evaluation Available
Families who believe their child may have been exposed to lead paint hazards can contact The Frankel Law Firm for a free, confidential case evaluation.
About The Frankel Law Firm
For 47 years, The Frankel Law Firm has represented lead-poisoned children and their families throughout New York. The firm has established landmark legal precedents including Juarez v. Wavecrest Management Team Ltd., 88 NY2d 628, which requires landlords to maintain lead-safe housing regardless of whether they know a child resides in the unit, and Munoz v. Puretz, which extended liability to prenatal lead exposure. These victories have fundamentally strengthened protections for New York’s most vulnerable residents and recovered millions of dollars for affected families.
The firm represents families in lead poisoning cases throughout the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, and the greater New York metropolitan area, including cases involving NYCHA properties and private landlords.
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SOURCE THE FRANKEL LAW FIRM
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