PHILADELPHIA – A mother and son have initiated legal action against Best Western, after the son and minor plaintiff was allegedly attacked and bitten by bed bugs when the pair stayed at one of the defendant’s hotels, located in Lakeville.
Mayrelyn Udan (in her own right and on behalf of five year-old minor plaintiff “M.M.”) of Scarborough, Ontario, Canada filed suit in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas on Oct. 18 versus Best Western Inn, of Grove City.
On Aug. 19, 2014, the plaintiffs slept overnight at the defendant’s hotel in Lakeville and Udan paid for the hotel room. The following morning, M.M.’s body was covered with dozens of severe bed bug bites, especially in sensitive areas of his lower extremities, according to the lawsuit. The suit adds the hotel’s manager, a Deborah Scott, supposedly refused to answer telephone calls and certified mail service from the plaintiffs regarding this matter.
The defendants believe Best Western was negligent in failing to clean the hotel room in question, failing to comply with health code regulations and failing to properly address bug control, among other charges.
For counts of negligence, breach of contract, gross negligence and violation of the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, the plaintiffs are seeking damages not in excess of $50,000, which includes interest, attorney’s fees, costs and such other relief as the Court deems appropriate, in addition to punitive damages and a trial by jury.
The plaintiffs are represented by Joseph Cronin of Cronin Trial Lawyers, in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas case 171002245
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nickpennrecord@gmail.com