California hotel guests awarded $2 million in bed bug lawsuit — they said the 1-night stay left them scarred, seeking medical treatment. How to protect yourself from bed bugs while traveling

Forced to seek medical treatment

Alvaro Gutierrez and Ramiro Sanchez booked a week-long stay at The Shores Inn in February 2020 but claimed they left after a single night due to a severe bed bug infestation. After the initial room was found to have bed bugs, the men were moved to another room, where the biting continued.

According to their complaint obtained by USA TODAY, both men suffered “painful bed bug bites, severe skin rash, allergic reaction, scarring and personal injuries over the entirety of their bodies.” They also said they were forced to seek medical treatment.

The lawsuit alleged that the hotel staff were aware of the infestation due to online reviews on Google and Yelp, but failed to resolve the problem.

“The bed bugs latched onto the plaintiffs while they slept, sucked their blood until they were gorged, and resisted eradication,” the lawsuit claimed.

USA TODAY says Gutierrez was awarded $400,000 for pain, disfigurement, grief, and emotional distress, while Sanchez received $600,000 for similar injuries. In addition to compensatory damages, the jury awarded each man $500,000 in punitive damages to hold the hotel accountable for its alleged negligence.

The Shores Inn did not respond to media inquiries from USA TODAY or the Los Angeles Times. An appellate attorney recently hired by the hotel owners, Wendy Lascher, told the Times that they were considering appealing the decision, or moving for a mistrial or new trial.

There are also concerns over juror conduct, according to the report. A note found inside one of the notebooks given to jurors suggests that jurors had been near the hotel during the trial and states that one told other jurors that the hotel was “an eyesore & should be tore down.”

This is far from the only bed bug lawsuit. In April, tourists filed lawsuits against the Luxor hotel and the Treasure Island hotel in Las Vegas over this problem, reported KSNV.

In a 2017 report, pest control company Orkin said almost half of all hotels have been the subject of litigation because of bed bugs, which according to their research cost, on average, $17,177 per incident.

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How to avoid bed bugs at hotels

While there’s no federal law requiring hotels to be free of bed bugs, most states and cities have health and sanitation codes that prohibit vermin or infestations. For example, Ohio’s code states, “No bedding which is infested with vermin or bedbugs shall be used on any bed in any hotel.”

Bed bug exposure during travel is relatively common due to the number of guests in hotels, explains Allan Bossel, operations expert and professional bed bug exterminator at BBE Bed Bug Exterminator in Tampa Bay, Florida.

“Large international events are the perfect opportunities for bed bugs to find new areas full of viable hosts,” he told Forbes.

However, if a hotel fails to address known infestations or provide adequate care after a complaint, guests may have grounds for legal action.

Here's a practical guide on how to avoid bedbugs — and what to do if you find them.

• Read reviews before you book: Check for recent reports of bed bugs or sanitation issues. A one-off complaint may not be a red flag, but repeated mentions are a concern.
• Inspect the room before unpacking: Place your luggage in the tub or shower and check the bed. Look for reddish stains, tiny black dots, or live bugs near the seams of mattresses, headboards, chairs, and drawers.
• Notify the hotel immediately: If you think your room has bed bugs, leave and notify the hotel as soon as possible. Hotels should act quickly to resolve the issue or reassign you.
• Preserve evidence: Take photos of any visible bugs or bites. Save receipts for treatments and document interactions with hotel staff.
• Treat your belongings: Wash and dry all clothes on high heat. If that’s not possible, seal items in plastic bags until they can be treated.
• File a report: If the hotel fails to respond, contact your local or state health department or the state’s consumer protection office. Consider leaving an online review to warn other travelers.

As this case shows, hotel guests have legal options if a property fails to address a known bed bug infestation, especially when management was previously informed and failed to act.

“Evidence of negligence may include records of prior complaints, inadequate cleaning practices, or failure to inspect and treat rooms regularly,” says Shiner Law Group. “Negligence can also be established if the hotel or motel did not follow standard industry practices for pest control.”

While many lawsuits settle out of court, this case sets a clear precedent, especially when victims allegedly suffer medical issues.

If you're considering legal action, consult with an attorney who specializes in premises liability, personal injury, or bed bug lawsuits.