Bed Bugs

Bed Bugs and Habitability in California

January 11, 2019 | Gregory J. Brod

California law requires that a landlord must ensure that a property is habitable before it is rented or leased. To a tenant, this means that the premises they rent or lease must have adequate living conditions. One of the conditions that can call habitability into questions, however, is a bed bug infestation.

The Health Risks of Bed Bugs

Bed bugs used to be a concern most prevalent in developing areas. However, in recent years, bed bugs have run rampant throughout the US. This increase has been mostly put down to the fact that bed bugs have developed strong resistance to many common pesticides. As such, infestations can occur even in the cleanest premises and can be incredibly difficult to eradicate. Bed bugs are small (a quarter of an inch long or smaller) insects that feed on human blood. They typically feed at night and hide in cracks and crevices found in furniture, bed clothes, and carpets during the day.

How to Avoid Getting Bed Bugs While Flying

December 7, 2018 | Gregory J. Brod

Over the summer, a 17-hour Air India flight from Newark, New Jersey to Mumbai, India was found to have bed bugs that bit a baby, a mother, and numerous children all over their bodies during the flight. Incidents like this have happened in the past and are completely unacceptable, as airlines have a duty to ensure that their aircrafts are clean and their passengers are safe. If you have experienced something as unfortunate and traumatic as getting stuck on a plane with bed bugs, contact the bed bug lawyers at Brod Law Firm today to have your rights represented in order to obtain the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

Can Bed Bugs Survive on Airplanes?

Despite the name bed bug, bed bugs can survive far beyond the limits of a bed. One common myth is that bed bugs can not survive at high altitude and therefore can not exist on planes. As evidenced by the cases mentioned above, bed bugs can and have been found on airplanes. While bed bugs are always a nuisance, it can feel like a much bigger pain when you are trapped on a long flight and are physically unable to get away from them.

What to do if You Find Bed Bugs in Your Hotel Room

November 23, 2018 | Gregory J. Brod

The last thing you expect or want to happen while you are on vacation is to find bed bugs in your hotel room. However, the unfortunate reality is that many hotels have had bed bug infestations, and it is not always possible to avoid them. If you find yourself in a situation in which you have found bed bugs in your room, whether the bugs have bitten you or not, make sure you follow the steps below and call the bed bug attorneys at Brod Law Firm to receive a personal consultation of your case.

What to do if You Find Bed Bugs in Your Hotel Room

Take photos and videos of the bed bugs.

Disneyland Sued Once Again for Bed Bug Infestation

November 14, 2018 | Gregory J. Brod

Any holiday can be ruined by an unexpected bed bug infestation, even a holiday to the happiest place on earth. Disneyland has again been sued by a woman who claimed she was “butchered” by bed bugs while staying at a Disneyland resort in Anaheim, California. Specifically, she claimed to have been bitten by bed bugs throughout her entire body, including her face, neck, arms, and back. If you have suffered an unfortunate encounter with bed bugs while staying in hotels around California, contact the experienced bed bug attorneys at Brod Law Firm to have your rights represented.

Disneyland’s History of Bed Bug Lawsuits

This is not the first time Disneyland has been sued for a bed bug infestation. Most notably, a Victoria Secret model sued Disneyland for a bed bug infestation during her stay at one of their resorts back in 2016 that left her with more than 90 bites. As a result of the bites, she was forced to take a two-month break from work.

Key California Bed Bug Laws to Know About

September 14, 2018 | Gregory J. Brod

Bed bugs are possibly the worst type of pest to find in your home and cause the most anxiety for residents. Luckily for California residents, as of January 2017, tighter laws are in place to protect tenants from bed bug infestations in their homes. If you are preparing to rent a new apartment in California, make sure you ask the landlord for bed bug disclosures, and if you currently have bed bugs in your home, make sure you familiarize yourself with the following laws so you know what your rights are and how to approach your landlord.

If you are currently looking for an apartment, make sure you familiarize yourself with the following laws:

Civil Code §1954.602: A landlord cannot show or rent a unit that he or she knows has a bed bug infestation. If the unit happens to have a bed bug infestation but it is not apparent, and the landlord does not know about it, then the landlord cannot be held responsible for showing a unit with bed bugs. If you have been shown a unit that very clearly has a bed bug infestation, contact our landlord-tenant attorneys immediately so we can help you seek the compensation you deserve for any damages you incurred from being in a bed bug infested apartment.

Bed Bugs can Mean Big Bucks in California Habitability Lawsuits

June 7, 2018 | Gregory J. Brod

Why are people so afraid of bed bugs? Unlike mosquitoes, bed bugs cannot transmit malaria. Unlike termites, bed bugs cannot destroy the wooden structures in your house. Unlike bees, bed bugs do not transmit deadly venom. Despite the dangers they do not pose, bed bugs are among the most troublesome pests found in the United States. Eradicating them from your apartment and possessions and preventing future infestations can be a herculean task, but in rental properties in California, it is a landlord’s legal obligation to deal appropriately with bed bug infestations. If you are renting a residential property, and your landlord has failed to take adequate measures to remove the bed bugs, despite your repeated requests, consult an attorney who works with landlord-tenant law cases related to habitability.

Recent Bed Bug Lawsuits in California

In the past year, courts in the State of California have issued several rulings in favor of tenants who complained of bed bug infestations in their rented apartments and houses. Here are some recent California cases involving bed bugs.

Your Right to an Infestation-Free Apartment

May 1, 2017 | Gregory J. Brod

As a tenant, you have a right to live in an apartment or house that is free from rodents, insects, and other vermin. You are not required to live within an apartment overrun by mice that are eating and dirtying your food or covered in bed bugs that are biting you day and night. Through the implied warranty of habitability and local and state laws, your landlord is required to get rid of infestations within your unit or the common areas of an apartment building. If your landlord does not uphold his or her duty, you may have the right to move out or hold your landlord financially responsible for fixing the problem. However, you should not do anything yourself without understanding your rights and the potential consequences. Speak with a San Francisco tenant rights attorney from Brod Law Firm first.

The Implied Warranty of Habitability

The implied warranty of habitability is an automatic promise you receive as a tenant that the premises you rent are safe and appropriate to live in. This is not a promise you receive in writing with your lease. It is an obligation dictated by law. It gives you the right to a habitable place to live and requires the landlord to keep the unit up to a certain standard.

Signs You Have Bed Bugs

February 6, 2017 | Gregory J. Brod

The sooner you realize you have bed bugs, the faster you can ask your landlord to have an exterminator come out and solve the problem. In recent years, newer chemicals and heat treatments have been developed that are highly effective in getting rid of bed bugs. However, the longer you have these insects in your home, the more there will be and the harder they will be to eradicate. Considering the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose area is within the top ten cities for bed bug service calls in 2016, according to Orkin, this is information you cannot afford to ignore. By knowing the signs, you can communicate with your landlord right away and prevent a habitability issue.

Signs of Bed Bugs

Fortunately, bed bugs are relatively easy to spot. They have some distinct habits that can differentiate them from other pests. Look for:

San Francisco Ranks in Top Ten Cities for Most Bedbugs

January 2, 2017 | Gregory J. Brod

Bedbugs are an unpleasant sign of dirt and disease and cause for concern among apartment dwellers and others. A recent report was released ranking the top 50 cities in the United States according to bedbug infestation. The San Francisco and the Oakland areas ranked number 10 for the most bedbugs in the country. The annual report was just released by Orkin, a leader in the pest control industry.

Bedbugs are Still a Major Concern

According to Orkin, bedbugs continue to be a serious concern. In fact, there are more bedbugs now than ever before. Bedbugs have become common, especially in apartment buildings, hotels, and similar spaces. Bedbugs were relatively unheard of just ten years ago, yet today they are a reason why some residences are inhabitable.

What You Can Do About Bed Bug Infestations

December 19, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

When we sign a lease we expect the premises to be kept healthy and habitable. One of the most serious problems that can cause inhabitability in a rental property is a bed bug infestation. Bed bugs can become a serious problem because they multiply so quickly. They are easily transmitted, so an entire apartment building may become infected. Property managers must properly respond to bed bug reports, and work to eliminate the problem. Failure to do so is illegal.

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are tiny, brown or reddish-colored insects without wings. They feed mostly on blood from animals or people. Bed bugs come out mostly at night. Because of their small size, they often hide between small cracks or crevices in bedding, carpeting, mattresses, couches, and other areas. Female bed bugs lay thousands of eggs over their lifetimes. Each egg is only about the size of a speck of dust. Bed bugs can easily hide in suitcases, furniture, and similar items so they can be easily transported between locations.