Tag Archives: Bed Bugs

by | May 8, 2014 · 9:00 am

Hospitality Industry Health Risk: “Environmental Heat Solutions Warns That Bed Bug Cases Could Rise Due to Increase in Travel and Lack of Awareness”

“…One of the most important places to check for bed bugs, according to experts, is in hotel rooms. This is because of the amount of movement through them. Bed bugs can ‘hitchhike’ on clothing and take up residence in mattresses. Image From there, they can attach to new hosts and ‘hitchhike’ out...Individuals who are dealing with bug infestations should consider methods like bed bug heat treatment and canine bed bug detection to remedy the problem...”

Environmental Heat Solutions is spreading awareness about the rise of bed bug infestations and the reasons behind them.

There’s a silent epidemic that is sweeping the United States, and that epidemic is bed bugs. Due to a number of circumstances and a lack of proper education, more and more businesses and families are struggling with getting rid of bed bugs.

For more: http://bit.ly/1gbWqIR

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by | March 25, 2014 · 8:35 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Update: “Bed Bug Lawsuits: Reducing Your Clients’ Risk”

“…Your clients, of course, are responsible for their own actions, or lack of action, when dealing with bed bugs. But there are actions you can take to help your clients avoid these kinds of deviations, minimize their risk of lawsuits, and reduce their liability if a lawsuit is ultimately filed. Of course, by doing so, you also reduce your own liability and risk from any bed bug litigation. But you must be proactive…”

Until they experience a bed bug crisis first hand, property managers usually can’t comprehend the full impact on their property. Most fail to appreciate just how difficult it is to control bed bugs once they have spread and become established.

That’s why property managers often address bed bug complaints with the same casual approach as complaints about cockroaches or ants. They typically do not respond aggressively, at the first sign of trouble, and before the bed bugs become entrenched and spread to other areas of the building. And property managers often resist investing the time, money and effort necessary to control a bed bug outbreak. That puts both of you at risk of a lawsuit.

For more: http://www.pctonline.com/pct0314-bed-bug-lawsuits.aspx

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by | January 31, 2014 · 9:00 am

Hospitality Industry Guest Health Risk: “The Bed Bugs Rise Again”

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For the full size image: http://visual.ly/bed-bugs-rise-again

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by | January 28, 2014 · 8:38 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risk: “Woman Forced to Cut Dreadlocks After Bedbugs Found in Suburban Chicago Hotel Room: Lawsuit”

“…Harder to explain is the trauma affecting travel for me now. I travel a lot for work, and every time I stay at a hotel I just get filled with anxiety…”453857859

“…Brumfield claims that on the second day of her stay at the hotel in Oct. 2012 a manager said an inspection of her room was needed after the bloodsucking Cimex Lectularius insects were found next door…”

A tennis coach was forced to cut off her waist-length dreadlocks after finding bedbugs in her suburban Chicago hotel room, a lawsuit claims.

Donna Brumfield alleges she had to hack off the cherished mane she’d been growing for 13 years after the creepy critters set up home on her head.

For more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/woman-forced-cut-dreadlocks-bedbugs-found-hotel-room-lawsuit-article-1.1590046

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by | December 2, 2013 · 12:02 pm

Hospitality Law Insider: Managing The Risks Of “Bedbugs” By Stephen Barth Of HospitalityLawyer.com (Video)

HospitalityLawyer.com Education Partner II

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by | June 28, 2013 · 6:33 am

Hospitality Industry Health Risks: Oklahoma Motel “Forced To Close” By City Officials Over Bed Bug Infestation, Mold, Water And Sewer Issues

“…City officials said the motel has been under surveillance for about a year and the owners have been told numerous times to fix problems with Hotel Bed Bugs Infestationbed bugs, mold issues, as well as water and sewer…Code enforcement officers said an angry customer called them to complain after noticing bed bug bites on her children and roaches falling from the ceiling…”

A motel in Ardmore is shut down after bed bugs and other issues pose a threat to customers. The Regency Inn located on 2705 on North Commerce St. in Ardmore was forced to close its doors after it failed a city code inspection.

The motel was shut down and customers were forced to leave the building. They said the motel will stay closed until the owner’s fix the issues and it meets city codes.

The owners declined to comment but said they’ll take care of the issues.

For more:  http://www.kten.com/story/22708184/ardmore-motel-shuts-down-after-bed-bug-investation

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by | May 5, 2013 · 7:27 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Ohio Motel Sued For $25,000 By Guest For “Bed Bug” Bites Requiring Medical Treatment; Staff Should Have Recognized Signs Of Infestation

“…in the morning, she claims she had bed bug bites, which were severe enough she required medical treatment. The bugs also reportedly infested the luggage she had with her. When she arrived home, the bed bugs reportedly infested her home…(the Bed Bugs in Hotel Roomsplaintiff) contends the staff should have been trained to recognize the signs of bed bugs, identified the problem, reported it to management and called in proper pest control measures to eradicate the creatures. She also believes she should have been alerted of the unsafe conditions of the room…”

A lawsuit was filed in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court this week seeking damages from bed bugs allegedly discovered last summer by a guest at Barnett’s Motel on U.S. Route 62 west of Salem. Jacki Covert, of Antiock, Ill., claims she rented room 110 on June 24, 2012 and spent a night at the motel.

According to the lawsuit, Hemiptera, which are also known as bed bugs, suck blood and rapidly reproduce. The bugs can be difficult to control, even in the cleanest facilities. The bugs shed their skin as they grow, leaving behind proof of their existence on sheets, pillow cases, couches, chairs, carpets and floors throughout the room.

She is seeking in excess of $25,000 in relief.

For more:  http://www.salemnews.net/page/content.detail/id/565283/Woman-sues-Barnett-s-Motel-over-alleged-bedbug-infestation.html?nav=5061

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by | February 13, 2013 · 7:30 am

Hospitality Industry Health Risks: Bedbug Infestations Rise In 2012 With Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles And Denver Reporting Most Treatments

“…bedbugs continue to be a problem throughout the U.S…(there is a) need to be very cautious when we travel – Bed Bugs in Hotel Roomswhether it is business or pleasure, or to visit family, friends or vacation.”

Bedbugs are on the rise again in the U.S., which means business is booming for pest control companies like Orkin. With increased travel, both internationally and domestically, and higher bedbug resistance to existing pesticides, Orkin has seen an almost 33 percent boost in bedbug business compared to 2011.

The company has just released its rankings of U.S. cities in order of the number of bedbug treatments from January to December 2012. The “Windy City” of Chicago tops the list, followed by Detroit, Los Angeles, Denver and Cincinnati.

Here are the top 50 U.S. cities, ranked in order of the number of bedbug treatments.  The number in parenthesis is the shift in ranking compared to January to December 2011:

  1.     Chicago (+1)
  2.     Detroit (+1)
  3.     Los Angeles (+2)
  4.     Denver
  5.     Cincinnati (-4)
  6.     Columbus, Ohio
  7.     Washington, D.C. (+1)
  8.     Cleveland/Akron/Canton (+5)
  9.     Dallas/Ft. Worth (-2)
  10.     New York (-1)
  11.     Dayton, Ohio (+4)
  12.     Richmond/Petersburg, Va. (-2)
  13.     Seattle/Tacoma (+14)
  14.     San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose (-2)
  15.     Raleigh/Durham/Fayetteville, N.C. (+4)
  16.     Indianapolis (+15)
  17.     Omaha, Neb. (+11)
  18.     Houston (-7)
  19.     Milwaukee (+13)
  20.     Baltimore (-2)
  21.     Syracuse, N.Y. (+2)
  22.     Boston (-8)
  23.     Colorado Springs/Pueblo, Colo. (+2)
  24.     Lexington, Ky. (-2)
  25.     Miami/Ft. Lauderdale (-1)
  26.     Hartford/New Haven, Conn. (+10)
  27.     Knoxville, Tenn. (+11)
  28.     Buffalo, N.Y. (+1)
  29.     Atlanta (-8)
  30.     Louisville, Ky. (+5)
  31.     Charleston/Huntington, W. Va. (+18)
  32.     San Diego, Calif. (-6)
  33.     Cedar Rapids/Waterloo, Iowa (+12)
  34.     Minneapolis/St. Paul (+12)
  35.     Phoenix (-1)
  36.     Pittsburgh (-6)
  37.     Honolulu (-19)
  38.     Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo, Mich. (+1)
  39.     Grand Junction/Montrose, Colo. (-1)
  40.     Nashville, Tenn.
  41.     Lincoln/Hastings/Kearney, Neb. (+7)
  42.     Albany/Schenectady/Troy, N.Y. (+2)
  43.     Charlotte (-10)
  44.     Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fla.
  45.     Sacramento/Stockton/Modesto, Calif. (-4)
  46.     Las Vegas (-30)
  47.     Greenville/Spartanburg/Asheville, S.C.
  48.     Champaign/Springfield, Ill.
  49.     Portland, Or.
  50.     Sioux City, Iowa

For more: http://ehotelier.com/hospitality-news/item.php?id=A24912_0_11_0_M

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by | August 21, 2012 · 6:12 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Illinois Hotel Sued For "Failing To Recognize Signs Of, Inspect And Exterminate Bed Bugs In Guest Rooms"

“…(the lawsuit) is against…Marriott and the former Hickory Ridge Marriott Conference Hotel for failing to provide guests with a sanitary rooms, failing to inspect and exterminate rooms and failing to recognize signs of bed bug attacks, among other claims…”

Two women filed a lawsuit Monday in Cook County Circuit Court againstMarriott International Inc.and a now-closed Lisle Marriott Conference Center after claiming they and their respective children received numerous bed bug bites while staying at the hotel last August. April, Safford and the two children stayed at the suburban hotel from Aug. 6 to Aug. 15, 2011, according to the lawsuit.

During her stay at the hotel, April noticed bumps and bites all over her child’s “arms, hands, back, legs and scalp” while helping him get dressed, according to the lawsuit. She brought this to the attention of the manager, who asked if April had made a request for clean sheets, the lawsuit says.

The two women and both children were diagnosed as having “numerous bed bug bites from a significant infestation,” according to the lawsuit.

For more:  http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/suburbs/lisle/chi-women-sue-hotel-chain-over-bed-bug-bites-20120820,0,3322080.story

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by | May 11, 2012 · 6:08 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Illinois Hotel Sued For $250,000 For "Bed Bug Infestation" During 2010 Stay; Violation Of "Consumer Fraud And Deceptive Practices Act" Alleged

The suit claims hotel employees did not warn guests of the bugs before they stayed in the hotel from March 19, 2010 through May 21, 2010, according to court documents.

A couple from Nashville, Tennessee is suing an O’Fallon hotel for more than $250,000 following an alleged infestation of bed bugs during their stay. The hotel’s attorneys are fighting to dismiss the case and the hotel manager says bed bugs are not a problem.

Antwaine and Woodrow Ross allege the Days Inn O’Fallon hotel knew the critters Cinex lectularius, commonly known as bed bugs due to their tendency to be found in bedding, infested their rooms.

The Rosses seek more than $50,000 from each of five counts, which include claims the hotel violated the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Practices Act by concealing the infestation. Days Inn attorneys have filed a motion to dismiss four of the five counts claiming in part that the Rosses “misapprehend what constitutes a nuisance and a concurrent suit to stop an alleged nuisance” and they fail to show the Days Inn acted with “deliberate intention to harm.”

To prevent bed bug issues, the hotel states a program was instituted in 2010 that included:
• purchasing special box spring covers designed for bed bugs at a cost of $2,600 a piece,
• treating each with room approved anti-bed bug powder every three days,
• any room suspected of having bed bugs is locked down for three days and professionally treated,
• increasing the frequency of routine monthly extermination services,
• inspecting 5 to 10 rooms at random during each extermination service and providing a report to management, and
• cleaning each headboard with bleach.

Read more here: http://www.bnd.com/2012/05/10/2171520/days-inn-ofallon-sued-following.html#storylink=cpy

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