Vegas Hotel Faces Lawsuit Due to Bed Bug Bites

Mississippi resident Krystal Nailer is suing The STRAT Hotel, Casino & Tower in Las Vegas, claiming that she was bitten by bed bugs during her stay in October 2022, resulting in permanent scarring. According to the lawsuit, Nailer woke up one morning at the hotel with painful welts on her left leg and buttocks and reportedly found a bed bug in her bed.

The Incident Caused Physical and Emotional Pain

According to a recent report by local news outlet KLAS, Nailer promptly notified the front desk of the hotel, and an employee was dispatched to the room. Court documents reveal the employee provided Nailer with hydrocortisone cream to soothe the welts and filed an incident report with the hotel. 

Bed bugs are tiny parasitic insects that feed on the blood of humans and are most commonly found in bedding, hence their name. The lawsuit also states that after the bites, Nailer endured several weeks of intense itching and pain and suffered permanent scarring. She also has experienced significant mental distress, having been forced to discard some of her clothing and other personal belongings.

According to Nailer, she had never had an infestation of bed bugs or bites in her own home before the October 2022 incident. The legal filing seeks compensation for her physical and emotional damages. STRAT representatives have not yet commented on the accusations. For Nailer to win the lawsuit, she must prove that the damage caused by the bites originated during her stay at the hotel.

Isolated Cases Are Inevitable in High-Traffic Areas

The Nevada Resort Association, which represents hotels along the Las Vegas Strip, addressed the issue of bed bugs in a previous statement, acknowledging that bed bugs can unknowingly hitch a ride in guests’ luggage and clothing. The association noted such cases were exceedingly rare and added that all hotels had strict health and safety procedures to address bed bug cases.

Nailer’s lawsuit is just one of many cases involving pest-related incidents in Las Vegas hotels. Another recent lawsuit from Michael Farchi, a California resident, claimed he was stung by a scorpion during a stay at The Venetian resort in December 2023. According to Farchi, the sting happened in a sensitive area. It caused physical pain, emotional trauma, and PTSD, affecting his quality of life, including his sex life.

Both lawsuits highlight concerns about pest infestations and their potential impact on the Las Vegas hospitality industry, with its millions of visitors annually. While hotels on the Strip adhere to rigorous cleaning and pest control measures, these incidents underscore how such encounters may be unavoidable in large, high-traffic properties.