‘Good Night, Sleep Tight, Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite’: Hotel Liability for an Old Scourge

Travel Law Quarterly, p. 213, 2009

NSU Shepard Broad Law Center Research Paper No. 10-005

8 Pages Posted: 24 May 2010

See all articles by Robert M. Jarvis

Robert M. Jarvis

Nova Southeastern University - Shepard Broad College of Law

Date Written: December 1, 2009

Abstract

This article examines the recent resurgence of beg bugs and discusses the liability of innkeepers when guests come into contact with such pests. Although bed bugs were largely eradicated from the United States in the late 1940s, they have now returned due to an increase in international travel and the replacement of DDT with less effective pesticides. While courts recognize that it is impossible for hotels to prevent bed bugs, there is a clear trend towards holding them liable for failing to take timely and effective removal steps.

Keywords: hotel liability, bed bugs, innkeepers, pests

JEL Classification: K10, K11, K12, K13, K32

Suggested Citation

Jarvis, Robert M., ‘Good Night, Sleep Tight, Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite’: Hotel Liability for an Old Scourge (December 1, 2009). Travel Law Quarterly, p. 213, 2009, NSU Shepard Broad Law Center Research Paper No. 10-005, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1614978

Robert M. Jarvis (Contact Author)

Nova Southeastern University - Shepard Broad College of Law ( email )

3305 College Avenue
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33314
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
176
Abstract Views
1,325
Rank
306,549
PlumX Metrics