Bed Bug Lawsuits on the Rise
Posted on July 27, 2009 with 4 Comments
Bed bug populations have been on the sharp rise. Hotel and motel owners do not realize the severity level of bed bugs, and are paying the price.
Lawsuits are starting to pour in over bed bug infestations, one case from a motel on Staten Island, NY and one from a rented box spring from a Rent-A-Center.
A woman from Tennessee rented furniture from her local Rent-A-Center. Days later she found herself in a hospital. Bed bugs can cause an allergic reaction, which could land people in the hospital, however it is rare. Commonly a rash will appear around the bitten areas. A spokesperson from Rent-A-Center said that they sanitize all the furniture after every rental, and bed bugs activity is rare. They did not offer any assistance to the Tennessee woman who “was completely miserable, swollen and blistered, and she remembered the doctor saying, It looks like something ate you up.”
She is suing Rent-A-Center for over $500,000.
The second case that we saw is from a motel on Staten Island. A number of extended-stay customers are suing the motel owner. The 11 residents do not have the financial support to move out of the motel, forcing them to deal with the bed bugs. This infestation spread over the entire motel. The amount of money involved in this case was not made public.
With the rapid increase in bed bug populations, we will start to see an increase in lawsuits regarding them. Did the motel residents bring the bed bugs in? Did the Tennessee woman already have bed bugs in her home? These are questions that must be answered in a courtroom. Controlling bed bugs can be a bit pricey because of the labor involved in treatment. Preventative measures can be taken in establishments with the use of K-9 bed bug inspection services. Inspections should be done regularly to ensure your businesses’ reputation does not get ruined, or land yourself in court.
Rent-a-center original article and Staten Island original article.
Tags: Bed Bugs, court, Hotels, law, Motels, rent-a-center, sue
Category: Bed Bugs, Commercial Pest Control









