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

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