A Norwalk, Connecticut man recently settled his claim against a major mattress retailer for $2,500.  The complaint alleged that the retailer sold a used box spring to the gentleman and his wife that was infested with bed bugs.  The mattress retailer, which has hundreds of stores across the United States, had denied the claims that the mattress was used and that it was infested with any type of bug.

The trouble began for the Connecticut couple two years ago when they purchased what they believed to be a new box spring.  According to reports, about a week after receiving a mattress and box spring set, the wife began to develop red spots which are typically found when bed bugs have been munching away.  Fearful that they were facing a bed bug infestation, they called Stern Environmental Group to inspect their home.  An investigation proved positive that bed bugs were present.  Stern Environmental Group was instructed to dismantle the “new” box spring to determine if it was the source of the bed bug infestation.  It was then discovered that the box spring was the source of the bed bug infestation because there were bed bugs inside of the box spring.

Whether the box spring was new or used is still one that is being investigated by the Connecticut Attorney General’s Office.

How the bed bugs were able to infest the box spring is still a matter that is being disputed as well.  If the mattress retailer is indeed selling reconditioned mattresses and box springs, despite rigorous cleaning, bed bug infestations can still exist and be transmitted.

If the mattress retailer is providing removal services to their customers when they are delivering new mattresses and box springs at the same time that they are making deliveries, this too is an easy way to spread bed bug infestations.

On December 3, 2010, new legislation requires that all mattresses that are placed curbside in New York City be wrapped completely in plastic.   Doing so will protect neighbors and sanitation workers from spreading bed bugs or their eggs from place to place. Failure to comply with the new regulation will result in a $100 fine that will be implemented beginning on January 3, 2011.  Mattress retailers should make the same consideration for their customers when they are picking up used mattresses and box springs to reduce the chances of spreading bed bugs to the new products that are in their delivery trucks.