Chicago is known for their deep dish pizza, recent teachers strike, Obama ties, and now the Windy City will also be known for a new bed bug lawsuit!

The Chicago Tribune reported on August 21, 2012, that two women have filed a lawsuit against Marriott International, Inc.  They claim that their stay at the now closed Lisle Marriott Conference Center from August 6th to August 15, 2011, was marred by the bed bugs that attacked them each night during their stay.

They accuse the hotel of “failing to provide guests with sanitary rooms, failing to inspect and exterminate rooms and failing to recognize signs of bed bug attacks, among other claims.”

One woman claims that she did notice bumps and bites on her child while staying at the hotel.  She claims that when she spoke to the manager about the bite marks that she was asked if she had a made a request for clean sheets.  Having clean sheets placed on the bed prior to checking into the room is standard protocol (or at least should be!), so this seems like an odd statement.

After checking out of the hotel, both women and their children were diagnosed with having “numerous bed bug bites from a significant infestation”.  Reports are that an adjuster for Marriott confirmed that bed bugs were present in the room that the women and children were in.

The five count lawsuit claims that the hotel was negligent.  The plaintiffs are seeking at least $250,000 in damages and reimbursement for medical costs. Businesses must make bed bug eradication a top priority or face the grim faces of the bed bug victims in court report NYC bed bug specialists.  Using a bed bug sniffing dog, bed bug monitors, bed bug traps, and mattress encasements are some of the ways that hotels can help to protect patrons against bloodsucking bed bugs.