Two individuals who claimed they suffered bites and disfigurement from bed bugs during a single night at a hotel have secured a $2 million settlement after pursuing legal action.
The guest claimed the infestation left them disfigured and traumatized, and that hotel staff did nothing despite knowing about the issue.
The incident happened on February 7, 2020, at the Shores Inn in Ventura, California, just over an hour from Los Angeles.
According to court records, Alvaro Gutierrez and Ramiro Sanchez checked into the beachside hotel and were immediately “massacred from bed bug bites.”
The pair said they endured physical and emotional distress from the attack.
“The bed bugs clung to the Plaintiffs while they were asleep, fed on their blood until they were full, and proved difficult to eliminate,” stated the lawsuit.
On May 23, a jury ordered the Shores Inn to pay a combined $2 million in damages to the guests, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Gutierrez was awarded $400,000 in compensatory damages for pain, disfigurement, grief, and emotional distress.
Sanchez, meanwhile, received $600,000 for similar injuries.
Each of them were awarded an additional $500,000 in punitive damages.
Court filings claimed the hotel’s management knew about the infestation but failed to act on it.
Several online reviews had also warned of bed bugs at the property, the complaint noted.
The lawsuit, filed in December 2021, stated that management ignored those reviews and allowed guests to remain at risk.
Attorney Brian Virag, who represented the two men, said the hotel had a long-standing bed bug problem.
“The management was not taking good care of the place,” Virag said.
“Turns out, they had experience with bed bugs at that hotel dating back a long time.”
How to get rid of bed bugs
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The NHS suggests reaching out to your local council or engaging a pest control company affiliated with either the British Pest Control Association or the National Pest Technicians Association to handle an infestation.
If you suspect you’ve been infected, the first thing you need to do is strip your bed and wash the sheets and blankets in 140 degree water, before tumble-drying for at least 30 minutes – or trash them all together.
You can also try a steamer on mattresses, couches, and other places where bed bugs hide.
You can read more on how to get rid of bedbugs here, but if you’re worried about the critters, there are also some products that can help remove the pests:
- Zero In Bed Bug & Dust Mite Killer, $6.99 – buy here
- Rentokil RKLPS136 Insectrol Insect Killer, $6.89 – buy here
- NOPE Bed Bug Killer Spray Treatment, $12.99 – buy here
- Persil 3 in-1 Laundry Washing Capsules, $9.50 – buy here
- Karcher Steam Cleaner, $159 – buy here
- Lakeland Mattress Vacuum, $49.99 – buy here
The men left the hotel after one night and sought medical care for their injuries, the attorney said.
Shores Inn has typically promoted its proximity to the Ventura Pier and Ventura Harbor for guests.
The property sits near the 101 Freeway and offers easy parking, according to its website.
Following the verdict, Shores Inn hired appellate attorney Wendy Lascher.
She said the owners may challenge the ruling.
“There’s unusual factors that go beyond the initial facts of the case,” Lascher told the LA Times.
Court records show that after the trial, a note was found in one of the juror’s notebooks.
It claimed two jurors had been near the hotel during the trial.
The note also alleged that one juror told others the hotel was “an eyesore & should be torn down.”
“I just need to clear my conscious,” the note read.
Virag said the note didn’t affect the facts.
“It is not uncommon that the losing party will attempt to appeal the decision of 12 members of the community,” he said.
“We will let the courts handle that.”
Virag specializes in bed bug-related cases and said this is the largest jury award he has seen involving the issue.
Shore Inn didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment by The U.S. Sun.
