What to do when getting bit by bed bugs at an Hotel..
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What to do when getting bit by bed bugs at an Hotel..
Was awaken by bed bug bites when staying in a hotel and the hotel doesn’t want to take responsibility.
Asked on June 25, 2018 under Personal Injury, Maryland
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 5 years ago | Contributor
If the hotel will not offer you compensation (e.g. not charge you for the room; pay to have your belongings professionally cleaned), you have two options:
1) You can refuse to pay any bill for the stay and make them sue you for the money, if they feel it's worthwhile. (Obviously, this assumes you have not paid yet.) If/when they do sue, you would raise the bedbugs (and any costs you incurred due to them; see below) as a defense. You paid to have a clean, hygenic, healthy, etc. room to stay in--you did not get that. If they did not provide what they were supposed to, they cannot charge you.
And/or--
2) You can sue them to get any money you paid back, and also for any costs you incurred--if you sought medical treatment, the co-pay; if you had your clothing, etc. professionally dry-cleaned after, for that cost; etc. Again, you'd sue on the basis that the bedbugs meant you did not get what you were supposed to; and their negligece (carelessness) in having bedbugs (not doing adequate extermination) caused you to incur costs.
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