One of the biggest jury awards in a bed bug case ever is the multimillion-dollar settlement given to two visitors who said they were badly bitten by bed bugs during a one-night stay at a hotel in Ventura.
The Shores Inn, which is situated at 1059 S. Seaward Avenue, was ordered by a Ventura County jury on Friday to give plaintiffs Alvaro Gutierrez and Ramiro Sanchez a total of $2 million.
After staying at the seaside hotel on February 7, 2020, the two men filed a civil case, claiming that a severe bed bug infestation in their room caused them to sustain several bites and other medical injuries.
“The bed bugs latched onto the plaintiffs while they slept, sucked their blood until they were gorged, and resisted eradication,” according to the lawsuit.
The plaintiffs claimed to have been bitten when they woke up, and they also reported experiencing bodily pain and long-lasting emotional distress, according to court documents and information provided during the trial.
They alleged in their case that hotel management knew about an ongoing infestation from multiple internet reviews and concerns from past visitors, but they did nothing to address it.
The jury accepted the plaintiffs’ claim that the hotel had acted carelessly and without regard for the safety of its visitors. As part of the award, Gutierrez received $400,000 for emotional suffering, grief, agony, and disfigurement.
Sanchez got $600,000 for comparable losses. For each plaintiff, the jury awarded $500,000 in punitive damages in addition to compensatory damages, for a total of $2 million.
Legal experts say that although the award is one of the biggest of its kind, it underscores growing concerns about hospitality standards and accountability over the health and safety of guests.
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Although they are not unusual, bed insect infestations are regarded as a severe problem that can have negative effects on a victim’s physical, mental, and financial health.
The hotel intends to appeal the verdict, which could postpone the payout or possibly result in a lower judgment, according to people familiar with the matter.
For the time being, the case serves as a warning to the hospitality sector about the practical repercussions of disregarding recognized health risks and guest concerns.
