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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Posts
    2

    Angry Bed Bugs From Work

    My wife is a bartender at a restauraunt in NJ and she had been complaining for months that she was getting bit by something behind the bar as it turns out they had an infestation of bed bugs in the apartment above and only one employee was told of this after complaining. They had told the employee to not tell anyone about this because it wasnt good for buisness. The employee said she would return after the problem was taken care of, as she did. Not until this past week did she or management come clean on this infestation. Not before I went crazy for the past 2 months at doctors offices which my three kids visited and were told that they needed to seek a dermotoligists advice for there(VIRAL INFECTION). It turns out when I discovered my wife had brought these buggers home I searched the internet for pictures of Bed Bug bites and low and behold my kids had bites all over. I have tried to work with these people on the issue which they have already admitted they were wrong by sending there national account pest control company to spray my house and in not so many words have said they would help with my materialistic loses. I am under alot of stress and have been fighting non-stop with the wife.(blaming her for this which I know I shouldnt.) It has called for removal of all mattresses in my house along with my rugs,clothing, personal items that these bugs can can survive in. I have tore my house up in hope to rid these pests of my house. I need to know if I have a case for there negligence in not notifying employees of this infestation in a timely manner. There are also 4 other households that have been victimized by this and it couldnt be a coincidence that 4 employees have been affected by this and I am sure there are more, but some people are probably embarrassed and probably dont even know they have them. Please I need some help and advice because I have nothing in writing saying that they will make good on my loses. Any advice in this would be appreciated and also a lawyers number in NJ that would be interested in this case.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Behind a Desk
    Posts
    98,846

    Default Re: Bed Bugs From Work

    It's an interesting issue, that I haven't seen arise before. (Bedbug infestations, yes. Bedbugs communicated from the workplace to the home, that's new for me.) Your wife is covered by worker's compensation. The issue as I see it is whether you have a viable case against the employer, as a foreseeable victim of its failure to mitigate the bedbugs and warn employees.

    I think you have a potentially viable case. If I were your lawyer I would try to build a case by analogy to asbestos cases, where worker's families were exposed to asbestos. See, e.g., Olivo v. Owens-Illinois, Inc., 186 N.J. 394; 895 A.2d 1143 (2006) ("We hold that to the extent Exxon Mobil owed a duty to workers on its premises for the foreseeable risk of exposure to friable asbestos and asbestos dust, similarly, Exxon Mobil owed a duty to spouses handling the workers' unprotected work clothing based on the foreseeable risk of exposure from asbestos borne home on contaminated clothing.")

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Posts
    2

    Post Re: Bed Bugs From Work

    Thank You Mr. Knowitall, I was waiting for a reply. I have since yesterday been contacted by several lawyers in this matter and they have said that I have a case. I just cant understand why they ddint notify my wife and other employees of this issue in a timely manner, maybe i could have nipped it in the bud earlier. These are the most annoying things I have ever encountered and they have put me and my family inturmoil. We live in the basement and have purchased plastic shelving for our clothes. It is awful and I wouldnt put my worst enemy through this. I will have to stay out of my upstairs for at least 2 months. Do you think by them paying $1700 for exterminating my house they are admitting at least that thy are wrong in some way? The reason that I am consulting a lawyer is because I requested something in writing stating that they will pay for my losses and the Vice President of operations said he cant do that, that I should trust his word. I am already out a few thousand dollars with mattresses, shoes clothing, linens, carleting,etc. and not to mention te hee bee gee bees i get all not long just thinking of them. This is a mess and I appreciate your input Thanks.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    28,906

    Default Re: Bed Bugs From Work

    Subsequent remedial measures are usually not regarded as evidence of liability for the prior event. A Tennessee lawyer will be better able to assess how a Tennessee court would view such evidence under your state's rules of evidence.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Ohio
    Posts
    1,126

    Default Re: Bed Bugs From Work

    Quote Quoting Antpal816
    View Post
    Glad you feel it is not the end of the world. Its easy to say deal with it when you dont have to. I am living my basement (which isn't that big) for at least 2 months with three young children. I am out almost several thousand dollars in merchandise and you tell me deal with it. Maybe you are on the wrong forum to be giving advice 'CHUCKY'. It has a been a very tough time for us and we are trying to deal with it for now, but when something could've been avoided and I could've taken preventive steps to this if we had known then I wouldnt be so pissed off now. So Chucky dont bother replying to something you have no idea about. Thanks Again for your thoughful advice.
    He said he has dealt with this before. His chose to just "deal with it". You're choosing not to. Just because you choose 2 different ways to handle a situation doesn't mean that you need to be rude. We weren't the ones that caused the problem, and we weren't the ones who yelled at the wife.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Posts
    1

    Default Re: Bed Bugs From Work

    Bed bugs are hitch hikers and are very common in public transport, hospitals, theatres, hotels, hostels etc. They move from place to place along with peoples clothing and baggage. During day time bed bugs hide in tiny cracks and crevices and feed on blood at night. Since they are mostly found in beds they are named as Bed Bugs. It is true that your wife has carried it from her workplace. And now your kids too are infected by it. Though your wife is covered for the expense your kids are not.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Il.(near StL,Mo.)
    Posts
    5,252

    Default Re: Bed Bugs From Work

    You posted to an old thread from 10-07 & the original poster with the problem has not posted since then. However, thank you for the information - someone may be interested.

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