Two casinos on the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada face lawsuits after several guests claimed to have been bitten by bed bugs while staying in on-site hotels.
Luxor Hotel and Casino and Treasure Island are at the center of the case, according to Record 8 News. Three lawsuits were filed on April 21 over incidents that took place last summer.
Three people have filed against Luxor and one against Treasure Island, with all action related to bed bugs. In court documents, the consumers said they were “massacred” by bed bugs and still have scars.
“The hotel operator has a responsibility to make sure that that room is bed bug-free,” said Brian Virag, the attorney representing the guests. “Housekeeping has to be thoroughly trained and have to know how to inspect. They need to really do a diligent job before they turn that room over to the guests.”
Casinos Should Not Create a ‘Dangerous Condition’
In the case against Treasure Island, Teresa Bruce from Los Angeles stayed at the property from June 20-23 last year. The lawsuit said that after Bruce reported being bitten, the resort sent its risk management team to her room and confirmed there were bed bugs.
Bruce was moved to another room, but again she said she was bitten. Treasure Island staff visited the room and again discovered bed bugs, according to the suit.
“It’s on the hotel to make sure that they’re not creating a dangerous condition,” Virag said.
As for Luxor, it faces two lawsuits. Stephen and Courtney Gully from Illinois filed a joint suit after staying from June 7-10 last year, while Brianna McKenzie stayed from July 16-18.
The Gully lawsuit describes how staff and medical personnel visited their room after Courtney had a reaction to bed bugs. An ambulance is said to have taken her to a local hospital, where she was prescribed medication.
The lawsuit added she had to pay for an Uber back to the hotel. However, it acknowledged Luxor refunded her resort fee.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re paying $60 a night for a room, or $600 a night for a room,” Virag said. “The obligation on the hotel operator is the same – you have to keep the guests safe.”
Neither MGM International, which owns Luxor, nor Treasure Island have commented on the cases.
