SCRANTON – A lawsuit filed against VRBO.com Inc. by a Narberth couple alleges they suffered carbon monoxide poisoning during a stay at one of the company's short-term rental properties.
The lawsuit was filed Feb. 14 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania over allegations of negligence.
During plaintiffs Matthew and Anna Patrick's stay at the Skytop Cottage on Sept. 20 and 21, 2019, the couple say they “suddenly awaken[ed] in a state of confusion, dizziness and in attempting to ascertain the problem, were caused to lose their balance and fall several times."
An emergency response team called to treat the Patricks determined they were suffering from exposure to carbon monoxide. This caused the Patricks to allegedly suffer permanent injury, rendering them both disabled; both of them claim they will no longer be able to follow through with their usual daily routine due to the injuries suffered from the carbon monoxide exposure.
“The actions of defendants, VBRO, Homeway and Parlay Inc., either individually and/or jointly, as described herein, were careless and outrageous,” the nine-page complaint says. “And were done in blatant disregard to plaintiffs’ health and well-being and financial well-being as to shock the conscious of the reasonable and ordinary person and exposes the Defendants to an award of punitive damages.”
The Patricks also claim they both suffered from the continual loss of companionship within their relationship and feel the incident will continue to affect them into the future.
The Patricks are represented by attorneys with Howard Rothenberg & Associates in Scranton.
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania case number 3:20-cv-00269