Hotel companies like Marriott International are required to provide their guests with clean, safe, and sanitary lodgings. When bed bugs are present in guests’ rooms, and guests are bitten, the hotel has failed to meet industry standards of providing a clean, safe, and sanitary hotel room. When hotels place guests in a bed bug infested hotel room, the standard of care has been breached.
In addition to being itchy, irritating, and costly to treat, bed bug bites can also transmit life-threatening diseases, cause permanent scarring, and create lasting emotional distress while simultaneously forcing victims to discard and replace expensive personal property. Bites and infestations are not a mere inconvenience — they are medically, financially, and emotionally devastating to victims.
If you’re suffering from the effects of emotional trauma, personal injury, or property damage due to being bitten by bed bugs while staying at any of Marriott International’s hotels, you may be entitled to compensation for your pain, suffering, and financial losses. The attorneys of Whitney, LLP may be able to help. Our experienced hotel bed bug lawyers handle cases nationwide, and are committed to fighting aggressively for maximum compensation on behalf of our clients.
To start exploring your legal options in a completely free and confidential case evaluation, call Whitney, LLP today at (410) 583-8000.
Marriott International Hotel Locations in the U.S.
Founded nearly a century ago in 1927, Marriott International has become one of the most widespread hotel franchises in the United States and abroad. The Marriott International franchise encompasses 18 different brands across six different collections, including:
- Luxury Hotels and Resorts
- Ritz-Carlton — One of Marriott International’s more famous brands, Ritz-Carlton currently has 40 hotels across 14 states and Washington D.C.
- JW Marriott — There are currently 65 JW Marriott hotels in operation throughout the United States, including major cities like Chicago, Houston, Miami, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and New Orleans.
- Lifestyle Collection
- Edition Hotels — The only Edition Hotel currently operating in the U.S. is located in Miami Beach, with a New York opening scheduled for Spring of 2015.
- Autograph Collection Hotels — The Autograph Collection has nearly 50 locations in states including California, Florida, Georgia, New York, and North Carolina.
- Renaissance Hotels — There are about 80 Renaissance Hotels across the U.S., with locations including Alabama, Arizona, Iowa, Illinois, and New Jersey.
- AC Hotels by Marriott — There are 73 AC Hotels worldwide.
- Signature
- Marriott Hotels — Marriott’s most famous brand operates 503 units around the world, with a total of more than 180,000 rooms.
- Select Service
- Courtyard by Marriott — Designed for business travelers, the Courtyard Collection operates nearly 1,000 units across the globe, including 887 in the United States.
- SpringHill Suites by Marriott — Geared toward recreational travelers, the SpringHill Suites brand encompasses over 313 units, with locations in cities like Sacramento, Denver, Boulder, Tampa, Baltimore, Minneapolis, and Charlotte.
- Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott — Fairfield Inn & Suites maintains 715 units for a total of more than 65,000 rooms, with special “Featured Locations” in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Orlando.
- Extended Stay
- Residence Inn by Marriott — Residence Inn has about 700 locations worldwide with about 80,000 rooms total.
- TownePlace Suites by Marriott — There are more than 230 TownePlace Suites locations in the U.S. and Canada.
- Marriott Executive Apartments — Designed for business travelers making extended trips, 26 Marriott Executive Apartments maintain over 3,600 rooms.
- Destination Entertainment
- Gaylord Hotels & Reservations — The Gaylord brand has five locations in the greater Orlando, Dallas, Nashville, and Washington D.C. areas.
Medical Problems and Health Issues Caused by Bed Bug Bites
It’s a common misconception that bed bug bites are “just itchy.” On the contrary, bites can cause serious health problems and in some cases, burden their victims with long-term medical issues.
While reactions vary from person to person, bed bug bites may cause or transmit the following conditions and/or diseases:
- Anaphylaxis
More commonly known as “anaphylactic shock,” anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction which affects the entire body. Without immediate treatment, anaphylaxis can cause severe swelling, low blood pressure, respiratory distress, cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), and even death.
- Chagas Disease
Chagas Disease is sometimes called a “slow killer,” lying dormant for years without any outward expression of symptoms. Up to 40% of Chagas Disease victims develop symptoms 10 to 30 years after being infected, including potentially fatal enlargement of the heart, esophagus, or colon.
- Hepatitis B
While many hepatitis B patients are able to make a full recovery within six months to a year, others develop a chronic liver infection which can eventually develop into liver cancer or cirrhosis. In these cases, the patient may require a dangerous and costly liver transplant.
- Hyperpigmentation
Bed bug bites can trigger an outbreak of urticaria (hives), which in turn can lead to a condition known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Hyperpigmentation is a skin condition in which certain areas of the skin become darker, creating a blotchy, uneven appearance.
- Impetigo
Not to be confused with vitiligo, or lightening of the skin, impetigo is a contagious bacterial skin infection which can cause facial sores, pus production, pain, inflammation, and swelling.
In cases where bites cause severe skin damage, victims may be ostracized or mocked for their appearance, heaping emotional distress upon physical suffering. This is particularly true of children, who may be bullied at school and develop severe anxiety, depression, and/or difficulties concentrating as a result. Children are also highly susceptible to developing insect-related phobias, and may suffer from recurring nightmares of being bitten or attacked.
Furthermore, in addition to causing medical problems and psychological distress, bed bugs can also wreak financial havoc on victims. Bed bugs are skilled at hitch-hiking in luggage and clothing, and can easily infest the victim’s home after he or she returns from the infested hotel. When this occurs, the victim must discard and replace infested personal property, including but not limited to:
- Appliances
- Bedding and Comforters
- Clothing
- Decorations
- Furniture
- Infested Mattresses
- Rugs and Carpeting
- Upholstery
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in MD?
Hotels and guest resorts are responsible for providing their patrons with safe, sanitary rooms. This legal concept is known as the “duty of care.” When hotels breach their duty of care by recklessly or negligently renting out rooms with known bed bug infestations, they may potentially be deemed liable for any financial losses or serious injuries, including the infliction of emotional distress, which befall guests because of exposure to bed bugs. However, it is important to move quickly if you believe you have a claim.
Because Marriott International is headquartered in Bethesda, the state of Maryland may have jurisdiction over litigation arising from out-of-state claims on any of the various brands that Marriott International offers. In other words, it does not matter which Marriott hotel you stayed at, or where your Marriott hotel was located — you may be able to bring a legal claim in the state of Maryland.
The statute of limitations sets a rigid deadline for filing lawsuits. The Maryland statute of limitations on personal injury claims is three years, beginning from the date the plaintiff was injured. The applicable statute of limitations may vary from case, depending on where the claim arose.
If the statute runs out or “expires,” you will be unable to proceed with your claim. In order to avoid this situation, it is extremely important to contact our attorneys as soon as possible. The earlier you bring your case to our attention, the more time will remain to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances of your hotel stay. If you wait for too long, there may not be enough time left to thoroughly analyze the evidence.
Contact Our Attorneys for a Legal Consultation
While the bed bug attorneys of Whitney, LLP are located in Towson, MD, our legal team is prepared to handle bed bug litigation throughout the United States. If you were bitten by bed bugs at any Marriott hotel in any state, we may be able to help you recover financial compensation. To arrange for a free and private legal consultation, call our law offices right away at (410) 583-8000.