$100,000 Bed Bug Lawsuit Award
According to the law firm's website, Stacey Belle spent the night at a Red Roof Inn in Oxon Hill, Maryland, suffered 31 bed bug bites, and hired Daniel W. Whitney of Whitney LLP to file a lawsuit against those responsible. Belle later won $100,000.00.
Hotel owners should have a bed bug policy in place. The policy should clearly explain what housekeeping should do if bed bugs are found, what management should do when made aware of an infestation, and how often inspections and treatment should occur.
In this case, the law firm claimed that Red Roof Inn had a protocol in place, but management did not professionally treat the room before allowing Belle to stay in it, even though the room had been quarantined because of bed bugs weeks earlier.
Although this image has been resized to fit this website, it shows bed bug bites on the arm. You can obtain a copy of the lawsuit and exhibits from the Circuit Court for Prince George County.
A photo of Stacey Belle and the attorneys who won this case for her appears on the law firm's website.
Case Details:
Case Number: CAL14-12532
Bed Bug Lawsuit Description: Belle vs FMW RRI I LLC filed on 06/12/2014
Plaintiff/Petitioner: Stacey Belle
Defendant/Respondent Information
Defendant Party #2: FMW RRI I LLC
Defendant Party #7: RRI West Management LLC
Defendant Party #3: Red Roof Inns Inc
Attorney Information
Name: Daniel W Whitney
Address: WHITNEY LLP, Towson, MD 21204
Name: Mark J Strong
Address: 100 South Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
In most of the lawsuits reviewed here, a bed bug policy either did not exist or was not followed, which hurt the hotel's defense. In cases where the hotel prevailed, the guest often did not properly document the bites or notify management.
For another example, see a 7 million dollar lawsuit over bed bug bites.