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.

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.

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:

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.

Your San Francisco Personal Injury Attorney Asks, Do You Know the Value of Your California Bed Bug Infestation and Injury Case?

October 17, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

In every personal injury case – regardless of whether it arises out of a car accident, a construction site mishap, or a fall down stairs, valuation is an important step of the investigative process that helps prepare a case to be filed and tried. Valuation refers to the process of assigning a dollar figure to the case that represents the total amount of harm suffered by the victims. It is, in other words, the case’s “worth.”

The Importance of Proper Valuation in Bed Bug Cases

Valuation is key: Without an accurate understanding of the case’s worth, the victim in the case will have a hard time determining whether a proposed settlement agreement adequately compensates the victim for his or her injuries and should be accepted. Moreover, if the valuation process is not completed correctly, then the amounts of compensation requested by the victim for this loss or that expense may be quite difficult to prove.

Beware of Bed Bugs Lurking in Motorized Carts, Says California Bed Bug Lawyer

September 22, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

A husband and wife visiting a Phoenix Wal-Mart store found more than they were looking for: bed bugs. The problem began when the husband (who had an injury to his toe) sat down in one of the store’s motorized carts that are made available for guests with mobility challenges. As the couple shopped, the husband began to complain of his back itching. When the man stopped by the restroom and got up from the cart, the couple noticed that the seat of the cart where the man was sitting was infested with bed bugs and that the man’s back was covered in bites. The company indicated it took prompt action upon learning of the infestation, including removing the vinyl covers from its motorized carts for cleaning.

Retail Stores’ Liability for Bed Bug Infestations

Although many individuals associate bed bug infestations with mattresses and bedding materials for obvious reasons, bed bugs can be found in other locations and materials as well. It is not just homes, apartments, and hotels that need to worry about bed bug infestations. Bed bugs have been found inside books, behind wallpaper, and even in hospitals and laundromats. While finding bed bugs inside the seat of a motorized cart at a retail establishment may be unsettling, it is certainly not out of the ordinary.