How Can Hotels Prevent a Bed Bug Lawsuit and Protect Their Reputation?

Last Updated on 10/08/2025 by Tony Abrahams

Advice from a Top Negligence Lawyer Who’s Seen What Happens When You Don’t

It’s a story no hotel wants to be part of — a bed bug lawsuit that ends in disaster. But one California inn just paid $2 million because they didn’t act fast enough.

Two guests checked into The Shores Inn in Ventura and left after just one night, covered in painful bed bug bites. The lawsuit claimed they had severe rashes, scarring, allergic reactions, and lasting emotional distress. Worse still, other guests had already posted online reviews warning about the same problem.

And the hotel didn’t act.

That failure to respond is what made this case so expensive. Not the bugs themselves, but the hotel’s decision to ignore complaints.

As a negligence lawyer who’s worked with cases like this, here’s what I can tell you. You can avoid this. Completely. But you need to take action both before and after bed bugs ever show up.

Why This Lawsuit Was So Expensive

The court awarded damages not just for physical harm but also for emotional trauma and punitive reasons. Each guest received $500,000 in punitive damages. That happens when a jury believes a business knew there was a problem and ignored it.

Negligence isn’t just about having bed bugs. It’s about failing to protect guests when you have reason to know there’s a risk.

“This isn’t just about bugs. It’s about guest safety, ignored complaints, and a lack of basic protocols.”

How Hotels Can Prevent a Bed Bug Lawsuit

The good news is bed bug lawsuits are preventable. Here’s what smart hotels do to stay out of trouble.

Put a Bed Bug Prevention Program in Place

If you’re not actively preventing, you’re passively inviting. You need:

• Regular inspections of beds, seams, upholstery, and baseboards
• Written logs of inspections with time and date stamps
• Training for housekeeping to spot early signs like black marks, tiny eggs, or shed skins

Quick tip: Use bed leg barrier traps filled with diatomaceous earth. They’re safe, invisible to guests, and stop bed bugs in their tracks.

Respond Quickly to Every Complaint

If a guest even mentions a bite:

• Inspect the room immediately
• Move them to a pre-inspected room or offer a refund
• Document everything, including the inspection findings and your response

Guests will remember how you handled it more than the bug itself. Courts will too.

Pay Attention to Online Reviews

In the Shores Inn case, Yelp and Google reviews became key evidence. Public complaints had been made and ignored.

If you’re not watching what people are saying about you online, you could be walking into legal trouble.

Check platforms like TripAdvisor, Booking.com, Google, and Yelp daily. Flag anything mentioning bugs and act on it.

Use Certified Long-Term Protection Tools

A few sprays won’t protect you. You need a system:

• Mattress and base covers to trap bugs
• Diatomaceous Earth around bed legs
• Portable steamers to kill on contact
• Ongoing use of certified and APVMA-approved products

Always keep receipts and take photos during application. It proves you took the issue seriously and used safe, professional methods.

Treat Infestations Transparently and Completely

If bed bugs are found:

• Close the room right away
• Use steam and DE powder to treat every part of the bed, frame, base, and flooring
• Notify upcoming guests if necessary and explain your process honestly
• Keep written reports, photos, pest control invoices, and cleaning logs

It’s not about perfection. It’s about proof. Show that you acted swiftly and responsibly.

Courts Don’t Punish Bed Bugs. They Punish Inaction.

That $2 million payout didn’t come from having a few bugs. It came from ignoring the issue after being warned.

You don’t have to be perfect. But you do have to be proactive. You have to respond. You have to protect your guests.

Because when you don’t, it’s not just your reputation at risk. It’s your entire business.

Want a Bed Bug Prevention System That Actually Works?

At Bed Bug Barrier, we help hotels and Airbnb hosts across Australia prevent lawsuits with:

• Bed leg traps that force bed bugs into diatomaceous earth
• Certified mattress and base covers
• Steamers for instant extermination
• One-time application products that protect for years

You only need to apply it once, and you can sleep in the room that same night.

Protect your guests. Protect your business.

FAQs About How To Prevent A Bed Bug Lawsuit

1. Can a guest really sue me for bed bugs?

Yes. If a guest can prove that your hotel knew about a bed bug issue (or should have known) and didn’t take reasonable steps to fix it, they may have grounds for a negligence claim. Courts look at whether you took proper precautions, responded quickly to complaints, and protected the safety of your guests.

2. What evidence can be used against my hotel in court?

Guest photos, medical records, online reviews, and internal emails can all be used as evidence. But one of the strongest forms of evidence is proof that management was previously warned — like a Yelp review or a complaint that was ignored. A lack of documentation showing you inspected or treated rooms can also work against you.

3. How do I prove my hotel took reasonable steps to prevent bed bugs?

Keep detailed records. Maintain inspection logs, receipts for professional treatments, photos of prevention tools like bed leg traps or mattress covers, and training documentation for staff. This kind of evidence shows you were proactive and responsible, which can make all the difference in avoiding or winning a lawsuit.

Are You Looking for an Instant & Long Term Bed Bug Treatment?

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If you have enjoyed our blog, Bed Bug Lawsuit, then you might like to read about the bed bug life cycle

Sources: Bed Bug Lawsuit

USA Today