HOUSTON – Five Harris County residents have filed suit against a Houston residential complex alleging they suffered damages from a bed bug infestation.
Named as plaintiffs in the case are Lady Guerrero, Zarion Harris and four minors and they are represented by the Rice Firm of The Woodlands. Listed as defendants in the case are JK 1000 Country Place LLC, The Park at Country Place and Excel Residential Services. The suit was filed May 19 in the Harris County District Court.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs moved into an apartment owned by the defendants in July 2015. The plaintiffs claim that there was no disclosure of bed bugs and if it had been disclosed there was an infestation, they would have not rented the property.
The complaint said that "not long after moving in, plaintiffs began to notice red, irritated bites on their bodies not realizing they were bed bug bites. Immediately after seeing the bedbugs, plaintiffs reported a bed bug infestation to leasing office."
The suit states the leasing office sent someone to do an inspection, who confirmed the confirmed the presence of bed bugs in the apartment and told plaintiffs the infestation had been in apartment for a while.
"Defendants fraudulently and intentionally concealed the fact their property had a prior bedbug problem from plaintiffs in order to fraudulently induce plaintiffs to rent the property," the complaint said.
The plaintiffs claim because of the bed bug infestation it caused them to suffer personal injuries and property damages. The plaintiffs also say they have incurred cleaning, extermination, attorney fees and other costs.
The plaintiffs claim they are suffering or will continue to suffer past and future medical, pharmaceutical and hospital expenses, past and future pain and suffering, past and future mental anguish, past and future mental anguish, past and future physical impairment, lost wages, property damage, exemplary damages, plus court costs.
The complaint also claims that the defendants have had prior bed bug infestation problems and despite this knowledge, defendants have failed to take reasonable steps to prevent further infestations.
According to Wikipedia, bed bugs are parasitic insects that feed exclusively blood and preferably human blood. Most bed bugs are active at night and they feed without being noticed. Health effects include allergic symptoms, psychological effects and most notably skin rashes.