Should residents of NJ and NYC apartment buildings sue their NJ, NYC landlords for being attacked by bed bugs? Let’s hope that other solutions are used. A lawsuit was recently filed in Cleveland by a law student who had been bitten by bed bugs in three different units in an upscale apartment building. He is seeking $142,000 in damages due to painful welts, emotional distress, compensation for rent and loss of property.

Did the plaintiff bring the bed bugs into the apartment building? Perhaps, but it’s difficult to know. Did an irresponsible tenant bring them in with used furniture or perhaps accidentally after sitting in a movie theater or some other venue? Perhaps but it’s difficult to know.

America is the most litigious country in the world. Nobody seems to want to say “oh well, tough break, I accidentally got bed bugs.” In cases where the landlord knew there were bed bugs but failed to act then it’s probably legitimate to toss a lawsuit at him. In this case, the landlord sued the tenant for unpaid rent and damages, then dropped the case. However the filing of the lawsuit caused the tenant to counter sue for the bed bug infestation. Bad decision by the apartment owner.

 If you have bed bugs, call a NJ, NYC bed bugs pest control professional to eliminate them.