Landlord forced to pay tenant $300K for bedbugs infestation
A Bushwick tenant scored a fat $300,000 judgment against his landlord over a bed bug infestation — because the owner ignored repeated requests to help him get rid of the creepy crawlers, his lawyer said Friday.
Luis Cotto, 35, filed the suit on Jan. 23 against his landlord, Gouramety Jackson — claiming that there had been a bed bug problem in his apartment on Willoughby Avenue near Evergreen Avenue since August of 2015.
He alleged that Jackson had failed to fix the problem, despite a series of complaints.
Cotto claimed that he had suffered “severe and permanent damage to his skin” as a result of the bug bites.
The settlement is one of the state’s highest ever in a bed bugs case, said his lawyer, Bruce Baron.
The lawyer said in a statement that landlords city- and state-wide have something to learn from this case.
“This sends a clear message to landlords throughout the state,” Baron said. “Don’t neglect your legal and moral obligation to protect occupants on your property from physical harm, or be held responsible.”
Jackson, who represented herself, could not immediately be reached for comment.
Source: nypost.com
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