What legal action can I take against a realty company for showing me an infested unit and now my entire body is covered in flea bites?

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What legal action can I take against a realty company for showing me an infested unit and now my entire body is covered in flea bites?

A realty company that was showing me a property of theirs but turns out the unit was infested with fleas. My legs and almost my whole body have flea bites all over. Seems like I have been having an allergic reaction to them as well. Are they not supposed to check these things first. He says maintenance gave them the okay. Thank god my 3 kids that were with me at the time didn’t get bitten up as bad since they stayed more in the yard and the infestation was indoors.

Asked on August 2, 2012 under Personal Injury, Virginia

Answers:

Leigh Anne Timiney / Timiney Law Firm

Answered 11 years ago | Contributor

In order to take legal action, you need two things.  First, you have to show the realty company acted negligently and second you have to show their negligence caused you damage.  If they were aware of the fleas but had taken steps to exterminate them and reasonably believed the property was safe to show, their action probably does not rise to the level of negligence.  Although your flea bites sound annoying, if you have not been forced to seek medical care, this is not significant enough damage to warrant taking legal action.  I would not work with the realty agency again and I hope you did not rent the place.  

Leigh Anne Timiney / Timiney Law Firm

Answered 11 years ago | Contributor

In order to take legal action, you need two things.  First, you have to show the realty company acted negligently and second you have to show their negligence caused you damage.  If they were aware of the fleas but had taken steps to exterminate them and reasonably believed the property was safe to show, their action probably does not rise to the level of negligence.  Although your flea bites sound annoying, if you have not been forced to seek medical care, this is not significant enough damage to warrant taking legal action.  I would not work with the realty agency again and I hope you did not rent the place.  


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