How Google reviews helped US couple to win $2 million 'bed bug lawsuit' against hotel
Representative Image
A California couple has won a $2 million award in a "
bed bug lawsuit
" against
The Shores Inn
in Ventura, California. The couple was able to win this lawsuit after Google and
Yelp reviews
helped to establish the hotel's prior knowledge of the infestation. Alvaro Gutierrez and Ramiro Sanchez filed the lawsuit following a February 2020 stay at the hotel, which they claimed left them with "painful bed bug bites, severe skin rash, allergic reaction, scarring and personal injuries over the entirety of their bodies," according to the complaint obtained by USA Today.
The lawsuit, filed in December 2021 by lawyer Brian J. Virag, alleged that after discovering the bedbug infestation in their initial room, the couple was moved to another, where they "continued to be massacred from bed bugs (sic) bites." Moreover, the complaint also alleged, based on Google and Yelp reviews left by previous guests, that the hotel management had been informed of the same bed bug issue before their stay.
How the visit to the California hotel affected the couple
Gutierrez and Sanchez sought medical treatment following their stay at the hotel, the lawsuit claims, as bed bugs "latched onto the plaintiffs while they slept, sucked their blood until they were gorged, and resisted eradication."
According to the complaint, the two suffered pain, illness, and emotional and mental distress due to the incident. As a result, they checked out of the hotel after just one night, despite having booked a week-long stay, the lawsuit states.
Last month, jurors awarded Gutierrez $400,000 for pain, disfigurement, grief, and emotional distress, while Sanchez received $600,000 for similar complaints. Additionally, both men were awarded $500,000 each in
punitive damages
.
The hotel plans to appeal or otherwise contest the ruling, appellant lawyer Wendy Lascher told the Los Angeles Times.
Following the verdict, a note was discovered in one juror's notebook suggesting that two jurors may have visited the inn during the trial, and another juror reportedly remarked to others during the proceedings that the hotel was 'an eyesore and should be torn down," LA Times reported.
JBL Tune Beam 2 Review: The TWS Earbuds That Punch Above Their Weight!
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
The post-30 skin plot twist: When pores zoom in before you do
One minute, you're being carded at bars. The next, someone gently points you toward the 'anti-aging' aisle while you're just trying to buy sunscreen. What happened? You hit 30 and your skin decided it's time for a plot twist. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Here's the thing: your skin doesn't throw a tantrum when you turn 30. It simply starts… changing. Quietly. Subtly. Until one fine day you wonder why your glow seems to be on sabbatical, your pores are suddenly visible from space, and your once supple cheeks are now playing a dry desert theme. This isn't a crisis. But it is a shift and no one talks about it until you're deep into Google searches like 'Why does my face look tired even after 8 hours of sleep?' Let's talk about what's really going on and how both men and women can navigate this sneaky stage with a mix of science, common sense and the discipline of simple habits. Texture: When smooth becomes sandpaper-ish In your 20s, your skin's renewal cycle is like a caffeinated intern on steroids ; fast, effective, and slightly smug. But post-30, that intern takes a break. Cell turnover slows, dead skin hangs around like an overstaying houseguest, and your face loses its bounce. Fix it gently: • Use a mild AHA exfoliant (like lactic or glycolic acid) 2–3 times a week. No need to scrub like you're trying to remove old paint. • Diet alert: Too much sugar and ultra-processed food dull your glow from within. Add in foods rich in antioxidants like berries, nuts, and green veggies and watch your skin perk up. Hydration: MIA and unbothered Remember when your skin looked dewy just because you existed? Yeah, that was your natural hyaluronic acid at its peak. Now, production dips (especially for women due to fluctuating estrogen), and your face starts feeling tighter than your jeans after Diwali. Simple swaps: • Layer a hyaluronic acid serum on damp skin, then seal it with a good moisturizer (look for ceramides or peptides). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now • Cut down on caffeine and late-night junk, which both dehydrate skin faster than a desert wind. • And no, fancy coconut water alone won't save you but any means of hydration is a start and the simpler it is the more consistent it's likely to be for sure. Resilience: The slow fade In your 20s, a zit would show up and leave like an uninvited guest. Post-30? That zit settles in, redecorates, and leaves behind a pigmented souvenir. Healing slows, inflammation lingers, and for women, hormonal shifts can trigger adult in Indian skin pigmentation is the subtlest and first sign of aging. Smart moves: • Introduce a retinoid or bakuchiol a few nights a week. It is your skin's personal trainer. • Don't pick. Ever. Picking now equals scars later. • Eat clean-ish. Greasy, high-glycemic foods are skin saboteurs, not comfort food heroes and that once in a while is not three times a week! Stress, hormones, and the 'Why do i look older than i feel?' phenomenon Cortisol, the stress hormone goes rogue in your 30s. It messes with your skin barrier, triggers breakouts, and even slows healing. Combine that with poor sleep, erratic schedules, and (for women) hormonal flux around cycles or perimenopause and boom, the skin starts to sulk. Quick wins: • Try mindful breathing for 3 minutes a day. It sounds basic, but it's backed by neuroscience. • Prioritise sleep. Not 'just one more episode' sleep. Real sleep. • And yes, regular movement (even dancing in your kitchen) increases circulation and gives your face that natural flush and glow. So exercise! Your skin hasn't betrayed you—it's evolving This post-30 phase isn't about panic. It's about pivoting. Your skin isn't failing. it's just asking for a little more effort, a little less neglect, and definitely less sugar. Hydrate smartly, exfoliate gently, eat like you love your cells, and wear sunscreen like your future self is watching. Because here's the truth: the glow is still there. It just doesn't show up uninvited anymore. You've got to roll out the red carpet. Dr. Aparna Santhanam
Time of India
19 hours ago
- Time of India
How Google reviews helped US couple to win $2 million 'bed bug lawsuit' against hotel
Representative Image A California couple has won a $2 million award in a " bed bug lawsuit " against The Shores Inn in Ventura, California. The couple was able to win this lawsuit after Google and Yelp reviews helped to establish the hotel's prior knowledge of the infestation. Alvaro Gutierrez and Ramiro Sanchez filed the lawsuit following a February 2020 stay at the hotel, which they claimed left them with "painful bed bug bites, severe skin rash, allergic reaction, scarring and personal injuries over the entirety of their bodies," according to the complaint obtained by USA Today. The lawsuit, filed in December 2021 by lawyer Brian J. Virag, alleged that after discovering the bedbug infestation in their initial room, the couple was moved to another, where they "continued to be massacred from bed bugs (sic) bites." Moreover, the complaint also alleged, based on Google and Yelp reviews left by previous guests, that the hotel management had been informed of the same bed bug issue before their stay. How the visit to the California hotel affected the couple Gutierrez and Sanchez sought medical treatment following their stay at the hotel, the lawsuit claims, as bed bugs "latched onto the plaintiffs while they slept, sucked their blood until they were gorged, and resisted eradication." According to the complaint, the two suffered pain, illness, and emotional and mental distress due to the incident. As a result, they checked out of the hotel after just one night, despite having booked a week-long stay, the lawsuit states. Last month, jurors awarded Gutierrez $400,000 for pain, disfigurement, grief, and emotional distress, while Sanchez received $600,000 for similar complaints. Additionally, both men were awarded $500,000 each in punitive damages . The hotel plans to appeal or otherwise contest the ruling, appellant lawyer Wendy Lascher told the Los Angeles Times. Following the verdict, a note was discovered in one juror's notebook suggesting that two jurors may have visited the inn during the trial, and another juror reportedly remarked to others during the proceedings that the hotel was 'an eyesore and should be torn down," LA Times reported. JBL Tune Beam 2 Review: The TWS Earbuds That Punch Above Their Weight!
Mint
3 days ago
- Mint
Think your smartwatch is just for counting steps? Here's how it can handle the rest of your day
For many people, a smartwatch seems like a fancy step tracker. It tells you when to stand, counts your steps, and logs your heart rate. But these tiny wrist computers do much more than just support your workouts. They can quietly take care of your daily tasks, keep you informed, and help you stay organised without even reaching for your phone. Instead of checking your phone every time it buzzes, your smartwatch lets you quickly see messages, calls, and reminders right on your wrist. You can reply with voice, quick text, or emoji and get back to what you were doing. Most smartwatches now support tap to pay features. You can grab your coffee, buy groceries, or take the metro without pulling out your phone or wallet. If you use smart home devices like lights, plugs, or cameras, many watches let you control them easily. Adjust lighting, unlock doors, or check your video doorbell with a few taps on your watch screen. Smartwatches are incredibly helpful for travel. Get turn by turn directions on your wrist, feel a buzz when it's time to turn, or flash your boarding pass at the airport. You stay hands free and focused. Ask your watch to set reminders, check the weather, add to your shopping list, or send a message. Most smartwatches now include voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, or Google that make this feel seamless. Smartwatches now support a range of helpful apps from meditation timers and to do lists to weather updates and grocery checklists. They fit into your daily habits without adding extra work. Yes, they still track your steps, heart rate, sleep, and workouts but now that's just one part of what they do. You get the full benefit of fitness tracking plus a more connected and convenient life. If you've been using your smartwatch just to count steps, you're missing out on a whole set of features that can simplify your day. From replying to texts and controlling smart lights to navigating new streets and paying at the store, it's time to let your watch do more of the thinking.
