Md. woman awarded $800K over bedbug infestation

Posted: 7:32 am Fri, May 31, 2013
By Associated Press





ANNAPOLIS — A woman who lived for more than eight months in a bedbug-infested apartment in Annapolis has been awarded $800,000 because her landlord allegedly failed to correct the problem.

An Anne Arundel County jury deliberated 45 minutes on Wednesday before making the award to Faika Shaaban. She rented an apartment in a house owned by Cornelius J. Barrett.

The award was twice what Shaaban asked for.

Shaaban’s lawyer, Daniel Whitney, told The Capital of Annapolis that the jury sent a message with the award.

He said that when Shaaban, 66, rented the apartment in September 2011, there was an open code violation for a bed bug infestation, but Barrett did not reveal that information.

Whitney said when his client moved into the apartment the next month, she developed a rash that was eventually diagnosed as bedbug bites. “Every night, blood-sucking parasites would come into her bed and feed upon her,” Whitney said.

The lawyer said a neighbor had reported the infestation to Barrett, who did nothing. Whitney also said the city found Barrett in violation and ordered to hire a licensed, professional pest control contractor to eradicate. Barrett failed to comply, he said.

Whitney says Shaaban was evicted in June 2012 and all her bedbug-infested belongings were thrown out on the street. Some items were stolen — meaning the thieves probably got more than they bargained for.

The Capital says Barrett did not answer repeated calls to his home seeking comment.


Read more: http://thedailyrecord.com/2013/05/31/md-woman-awarded-800k-over-bedbug-infestation/#ixzz2VrfG1lyx

Now I know why one of our pest control cronies is investing 50 grand in a bedbug truck. If some of our slumlords see this, our phone will be ringing off the wall. We don't do bedbugs because it's typically a house keeping issue. Great story ponyboy. A guess a lot of juries nowadays are packed with people direct from insane asylums. Wonder how much everyone's insurance will go up now.

Good point on the insurance$$$$$$$$$$

Lessee... $800K divided by 8 months gives $100,000 US dollars A MONTH. Where can I get an apartment from this guy??!

I think this award really depends on what things were stolen.
If you work from home, this can ruin your business!

She returns home, finds her stuff dumped out on the street by this scuzy landlord.
The landlord probably did it out of spite, because she complained.

He lied about a bedbug problem when she moved in.
Didn't fix it.
Dumps her stuff on the street.
Her stuff is stolen. (And my guess is the thieves only took what was valuable.)

Think about it: electronics, furniture. Possibly family heirlooms. Jewelry. Guns? Who knows.

How screwed would you be to find all your stuff in the street?

Tsar, if they dumped my stuff in the street and my lawyer sued for $400 grand, that meant my stuff was worth less than $200 grand and they would have been thrilled with $300 grand. So when any of your insurance rates go up, you usually have morons disguised as jurists, to blame.