Category Archives: Bed Bugs California

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Bed bugs are human parasites that feed off human blood. These nocturnal pests, whose bites inflict an itch that might lead to an allergic reaction, are everywhere -- even on cruise ships out to sea.

Princess Cruises was sued by an irate passenger in a California court for an alleged bed bug infestation in their stateroom that left her and her husband riddled with numerous bites from bed bugs that "sucked their blood until they were gorged." The company is a cruise line based in California owned by Carnival Corporation & plc. It's the world's second largest cruise line by net revenue.

The lawsuit was filed at the U.S. District Court in the Central District of California by Connie Flores, who had a small part in Netflix's Oscar-nominated film "Marriage Story" released in 2019. Flores and her husband seek general damages of at least $75,000 on multiple counts under both maritime and California law.

"Unbeknownst to Plaintiffs, the Stateroom was infested with hundreds of bed bugs," said the lawsuit, noted CNN. "The bed bugs latched onto the Plaintiffs while they slept and sucked their blood until they were gorged."

Flores said she and her husband suffered "numerous bites and skin rashes, which caused pain, discomfort, annoyance sleeplessness, inconvenience, humiliation, anxiety and emotional distress."

They accused Princess Cruises of negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress and battery, among others. Thelawsuit claims Princess Cruises either knew or should have known about the alleged infestation and failed to treat it.

Flores and her husband, Alvin, took a cruise aboard the Emerald Princess from Nov. 29 and Dec. 4, 2018. Their lawsuit is a direct result of this voyage. Video footage taken by Flores and her husband allegedly shows bed bugs crawling on the sheets on their cruise ship bed. Images shared by the law firm representing thec couple allegedly show bed bug bites on the bodies of the couple.

The couple said they notified the ship's staff about the problem. Intead of assisting them, the "employees and medical staff refused and delayed Plaintiffs' requests and ridiculed Plaintiffs and their injuries," alleges the lawsuit.

Princess Cruises said it was "very sorry" to hear about Flores' allegations. It pointed out its commitment to following and often exceeding stringent sanitation and health guidelines.

"Given that this is an open lawsuit, we are limited in what information we can share right now," said a statement from the company. Princess Cruises said it's worth noting, "our room attendants are highly trained to identify bed bugs and ALL staterooms are thoroughly inspected each month as a preventative measure." The company said its cruise ships rooms are cleaned twice a day.

"It would be highly unusual for the presence of bed bugs to go unnoticed for more than the length of one cruise," said the company.

bed bugs, signs, odor Photo: danydory - Pixabay

Link:
Cruise Ship 'Infested' With Hundreds Of Bed Bugs: 'Marriage Story' Actress Sues Cruise Line - International Business Times

Bed Bug Hotel and Apartment Reports. Click on the city below to find our latest bed bug reports in California on hotels. To report a new bed bug incident, navigate to our city page below to see further details.

Recommended tips after hotel check-in: 1. Pick up the mattresses in the rooms and look under it. Check around the edges of the box springs. 2. Check under the box spring. 3. Lift up each headboard an lay it on the bed. Carefully inspect the hole where the headboard was lifted out of. Also, inspect all niches and corners of the headboard. 4. If you decide to stay in the hotel, do not put any clothes in dressers. Keep them in your luggage and your dirty clothes in plastic bags.

I stayed at this hotel on November 16th when I went to bed I had no bites on my arms. I woke up on the 17th with bites all over my arms and wrists. I had to leave early but later I called the hotel to...

My son & I (eydie) stay at economy inn for a week 11/13/2019 to 11/20/ 2019.out of the week I was there for only there for 4 days it happen over night Housekeeper never came to clean or bring clean to...

October 9 2019 room 304 at 6:30aReported to hotel staff. Was moved and hour and a half later to a room on the 4th floor. They had the room cleaned and had the room inspected the following day! ...

The rest is here:
California Bed Bug Hotel and Apartment Reports ...

Bedbugs are pests that not just invade your home furniture but also feed on your blood. They are flat and oval in shape and generally do not harm or carry any diseases. Bedbug bites are small and itchy which can be really irritating and uncomfortable. Moreover, once they infest your home spotting them and getting rid of them can be quite tricky. The bedbugs leave a trail behind which can be found through careful inspection. Here are some of the signs and symptoms of a bed bug infestation:

You wake up with red spots on your skin: One of the most common and noticeable signs due to bed bugs are red spots on the skin. If you are bitten by bed bugs the skin gets inflamed and red itchy spots appear. You may be surprised to note that a small percentage of people do not react to bedbug bite. Hence it is essential to regularly inspect the bed for their presence.

Dark stains on your pillows or bedsheets: Bed bugs leave behind stains in the places they occupy. These stains are dark spots and reddish in color and look like a marker stain on your bed sheets or pillows. If you want to get a better insight regarding different signs, check out this post about bedbugs. Once you realize that your mattress is infested it is essential to check out how to get rid of them altogether and stop them from spreading to other parts of your home too.

Space smells musty: If you feel that there is an unfamiliar odor in your home it could be a sign of infestation. The National Health Service, NHS in its advisory on the growing bed bug infestation states that the presence of these pests causes an unpleasant and musty smell as they release pheromones (a chemical released by pests or animals into the environment). Stronger smell indicates that the infestation is more, and needs to be dealt with immediately.

Fecal spots: Bed bugs release liquid waste where they live and these can cause fecal spots. These are much different from bloodstains. Bed bugs creep out of their hideouts during the night and suck blood from humans. The blood sucked from humans is digested and released as a fecal matter which leaves trails of black or dark brown spots when they move around on the mattress or sheets. If you find such fecal spots on your furniture, floor or wall, it means your house is infested.

If you find bed bug shells: The bed bug shells are white specks and can also be mottled. These shells are also released when they shed their skin. You are likely to find such specks in your mattress, on a headboard, between the sofa cushions and beneath the furniture. Inspect every fabric and wood pieces as they prefer these materials over metal or plastic.

Getting rid of bed bugs is very difficult and takes both time and patience. Many methods and processes need to be followed to remove the infestation and hence taking help from professionals are essential. They ensure the quick and safe removal of these pests by determining the best treatment option.

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How To Identify If Your House Has Bed Bugs? - The Hear UP

It might be cute to hear a three-year old sing, As snug as a bug in a rug, but theres nothing cute at all about having your home infested with bed bugs. But thats what Rudy and his family dealt with in July, 2019 when their home became bed bug central.

A pest control service got the infestation under control, but it was an expensive nightmare, he explained during our telephone conversation. He had been on the phone to a number of attorneys wanting someone to file suit against the school district for the way a teacher and administrators dealt with his nine year old son who showed up at school with a bed bug on his jacket, the morning of October 8th.

After an absence of about 40 years, bed bugs have made a stunning worldwide return, and while it is rare for schools to become infested, still, in many parts of the country, finding even one bed bug on a student is considered as a public health emergency. All schools that receive federal funds must have extensive What to do if contingency plans in effect.

Taken to the Nurses Office

From what my son, David, explained, as he walked into his classroom by the teacher, she spotted a bed bug on his jacket and immediately walked with him to the nurses office. While there, his jacket was removed, they lifted his shirt, examined his back and legs for evidence of bites or bugs themselves, but found none. Then, he was brought back to his classroom.

You are probably thinking, Thank goodness! Thats what they should have done! Why is the boys father upset? Thats what I thought as well, and asked to speak with his son who also confirmed that everyone was nice to him.

They all knew that we had bedbugs because I told my friends about the problem at home. It was really exciting! this very polite, well-spoken nine year-old happily explained.

I Am going to Post the Schools Illegal Behavior!

However dad was furious, threatening to post what he felt was illegal conduct by all the people involved with David and the bed bug. But why? As the boy wasnt harmed in the least, what had they done that was so wrong?

They legally had the obligation of calling me first for permission to remove Davids coat or examine him! Thats what! I want a lawyer to sue them, and Im going to post this on Facebook and other social media sites, listing all the names of those people.

Well, not so fast, Rudy. In researching his schools policy for dealing with bedbug issues, while it is required for a parent to be notified at some time, procedure calls for just what happened. They did the right thing. It is a public health concern where time is critical - so these little vampires dont go looking for a human blood bank.

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I asked Rudy if he thought about the consequences of posting what would amount to defamatory statements about these people. What do you mean, consequences? Like getting them fired?

No, I replied, like getting yourself sued, creating a problem for your son down the road, and as such a suit would most likely be thrown out of court, still your names would remain out there forever, seen as troublemakers. Want to guess what I am thinking of?

Think Over Carefully Before Posting Anything Negative Online

I ran this all too common fact situation by two of our consultants for their evaluations:

--San Francisco-based attorney Richard Lutkus who is among a handful of lawyers in the country whose law practice concentrates on cyber-security preparedness, data breach response, and data privacy.

California licensed private investigators, Riley and Jane Parker, who are the founders of Pre-Employment Profiles, LLC, a service for employers who need to vet would-be applicants.

By posting false remarks online you are open to being sued for defamation, so assume that you cannot delete them ever. It is out there. Understand that whatever your write can be developed into a profile of who you are, Lutkus points out, adding, Just ask yourselfbetter yet, ask a friend--before posting something when you are angryespecially if it could be falseHow could this come back and harm me?

Both Riley and Jane Parker want Rudy to stop and ask, By posting defamatory comments, or, if you find a lawyer who sues the school, just count on a background search that will have you and your son labeled as trouble. This will impact an employers decision to hire you, and could adversely affect your sons future.

We'll send breaking news and news alerts to you as as they happen!

Dennis Beaver Practices law in Bakersfield and welcomes comments and questions from readers, which may be faxed to (661) 323-7993, or e-mailed to Lagombeaver1@gmail.com. And be sure to visit dennisbeaver.com.

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You and the Law: Father bugged by school's handling of son's bed bug issue - Hanford Sentinel

It happens all too often: A tenant wakes up one day with a row of mysterious bites. They check online and start to suspect bed bugs but face a hard decision.

Should you tell your landlord and risk retaliation? Will the landlord accuse you of bringing the bed bugs in yourself and force you to pay for treatment out of pocket?

This post will help you navigate through the important questions and answer them.

Disclaimer: Information found on this page is informational, not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney at law before considering taking any action.

Many a landlord has claimed that they should not be held responsible for infestations. Many try to pass the cost of professional treatment off to tenants.

It is impossible to isolate where bed bugs came from once theyve settled in.

We cover the most common causes of bed bugs so you know what situations to avoid.

Finding them in your own home is already a task. Expecting every tenant to check periodically is unrealistic.

By the time symptoms are noticeable, bed bugs have likely spread to other rooms and units.

With this reality in mind, the legal responsibility to pay and fix the issue falls upon the landlord.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has issued rules and guidelines prohibiting landlords from charging or subsidizing the cost of bed bug treatment.

Well explain those rules shortly. It is also good to know what landlords and tenants must do at the least in California.

The Landlord Obligations Law of California Civil Code Section 1941.1, stipulates thatlandlords must provide and maintain:

The Tenant Obligations Law of California Civil Code Section 1941.2, requires that the tenant:

Retaliation by the landlord is illegal when a tenant must take matters into their own hands.

California Civil Code Section 1942.5 prohibits a landlord from retaliating against a tenant if the tenant:

Landlords who try to pass the cost of bed bug treatment on to tenants are violating their legal obligation to maintain the property.

California Civil Code Section 1941.1 protects tenants from landlords turning a blind eye on vermin, which includes bed bugs.

California offers protections specifically from bed bugs to renters in several forms. Knowing them is important as they are your rights as a renter.

Bed bugs should be reported as soon as they are suspected to safeguard the entire building and even neighboring buildings.

To encourage reporting the State ensures that landlords cant use scare tactics to avoid dealing with bed bugs.

In the big picture, reporting bed bugs early saves everyone money and stress. That includes the landlord.

Tenants have the legal right to withhold rent when the landlord fails to maintain habitable conditions.

This is called an Affirmative Defense to an unlawful detainer.

Tenants can file suit against landlords who fail to maintain rental units in a habitable condition.

Disclaimer: Consult a licensed attorney at law before considering taking any action.

Californias Landlord Obligations Law and the case of Knight v. Hallsthammar establish that a landlord is obligated to provide and maintain residential rental premises in a habitable condition, regardless of the landlords financial ability, financial condition, or the availability of funds for necessary repairs and maintenance.

This means that a landlord saying, I dont have the money, is not a valid excuse.

Sometimes landlords engage in willful negligence. They may claim that the tenant never provided notice of an infestation.

Peterson v. Superior Court held that a landlord has constructive notice if a reasonable inspection would have revealed the defect.

Constructive notice represents the idea that whether or not a person or entity actually knows something, they are liable for its consequences if they reasonablyshouldhave known.

The act of not knowing is negligence in itself on the part of the property owner.

In most cases, the landlord is legally required to pay for bed bug treatment in California.

For example:

I recently wrote about a newly enacted amendment toSection 1942.5.

You can read about it here:Californias New Bed Bug Laws.

Or, you can get the skinny on the update with this infographic:

For more useful guides and graphics like the above, give the free ebook a look!

As always, congratulations on investing in your own health and learning your rights. Best of luck in your fight towards getting and staying Debedbugged!

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California Renter Bed Bug Rights | Debedbug