Sometimes our readers encounter legal concerns related to their bed bug infestations. If you need legal advice, but can’t afford a lawyer, there may be a legal aid clinic that can help. They are often attached to law schools or social service agencies.
You can often find a local legal aid center by googling the term “legal aid” and the name of your city, or by looking in the phone book.
US residents might use website LawHelp.org, which helps you find local legal aid clinics where you may be able to get legal advice and assistance.
Canadians might use the suggestions on the Canadian Bar Association website’s FAQ about legal aid and how to find a lawyer.
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We are just returning from a 4 day vacation at a resort in Captiva Island. Had a great time except when we went to sleep. On the 2 day my 3 year old son woke up in the mid night screaming that something had biten him. He than slept over in our bed and I slept in the pull out bed in the living room with our older son. By morning I to was biten as well as our older son. I currently have over 75 bites in my body of which 35 bites are on my right leg.
Also, while waiting for the bus another lady was complaining of the same problems. She thought it was mosquitoe bites in her room. Please tell what can I do to prevent this night vampire from striking again to some family and besides the hotel who should i contact to inforce action.
If you want to take legal action, you will need a lawyer.
If you want someone to inspect this hotel room, you might call the local city or county health department. Many articles mention hotels being inspected for bed bugs and forced to remediate problems after people call the local health dept. and an inspector is sent out.
You might also place a review on http://tripadvisor.com warning others. At the very least, others will see your review before booking.
I don’t hear much about tenants suing the exterminating companies that disperse inaccurate information to get the job, repeatedly treat with the same pesticide even though it didn’t work the first 5 times, and then lie about seeing furniture in the tenants’ apartment that wasn’t there “and that is why I can’t get rid of the bedbugs” nonsense.
Has anybody sued the PCO that not only couldn’t get rid of the bedbugs but continually threw out red herrings to cover themselves? The information we received from these so-called professionals is intentionally deceiving.
Hi Desiree,
I have not personally heard of any such lawsuits.
I recently visited a friend’s apartment who’s neighbor, about a month prior, had a bedbug infestation. During my visit, I was bitten several times, and upon returning to my home the next day, I found that I continued to receive new bites.
After having thrown my sheets, blankets, comforters, and pillows into the dryer on HIGH and steaming down most of my mattress, I continue to find new bug bites.
Would the landlord for my friend’s apartment be, at least partially, financially responsible for helping me rid my infestation as the complex did not rid the infestation previously?
Thanks so much
Hi Jeff,
Sorry you are going through that.
I’m not a lawyer and can’t give legal advice. The post above describes how you might go about getting a lawyer’s opinion on whether you have some kind of case.
Updated to add Canadian info.