M
HABITABILITY & BED BUGS
You Deserve a Clean, Habitable Home.
Living in a building infested with bed bugs is not only uncomfortable but also a serious threat to your health and well-being. These pests are notorious for their ability to spread rapidly, making it nearly impossible to get a good night’s sleep without the fear of waking up covered in itchy, painful bites. Beyond the physical discomfort, bed bugs can trigger allergic reactions, worsen respiratory conditions, and even cause psychological distress due to the constant anxiety of an ongoing infestation. No tenant should have to endure these conditions, especially when they are paying rent with the expectation of a safe and habitable living environment.
A landlord has a legal responsibility to maintain a property that is fit for human habitation, and a bed bug infestation is a clear violation of that duty. If you have repeatedly notified your landlord about this issue and they have failed to take appropriate action, you may have grounds for legal action. You deserve to live in a clean and sanitary home, free from pests that pose health risks and significantly reduce your quality of life. An experienced attorney can help you understand your rights, negotiate with your landlord, and, if necessary, take legal steps to hold them accountable. You shouldn’t have to suffer in silence—seeking legal representation is a crucial step toward getting the resolution you deserve.
COMMON BED BUG
(Cimex Lectularius)
What Are Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown, wingless insects that feed on the blood of humans and animals. They are nocturnal pests, hiding during the day in cracks, crevices, and furniture, then emerging at night to feed. Bed bugs are incredibly resilient, capable of surviving for months without a meal, and they reproduce quickly, making infestations challenging to control.
Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation
If you suspect bed bugs in your home, look for these common signs:
- Bite Marks on Skin – Red, itchy welts that appear in clusters or a line, often on exposed areas like the arms, neck, and legs. However, not everyone reacts to bed bug bites.
- Blood Stains on Bedding – Small, rust-colored stains on sheets, pillowcases, or mattresses from crushed bed bugs or bites.
- Dark Spots (Fecal Stains) – Tiny black or brown specks on mattresses, walls, or furniture, which are bed bug droppings.
- Shed Skins and Egg Casings – As bed bugs grow, they shed their exoskeletons. Look for these translucent shells in mattress seams, furniture joints, or carpet edges.
- Musty Odor – A strong, sweet, musty smell, especially in severe infestations, caused by the bed bugs’ scent glands.
- Live Bed Bugs – Adult bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed and can be seen hiding in mattress seams, bed frames, electrical outlets, and even behind wallpaper.
If you notice any of these signs, immediate action is necessary to prevent the infestation from spreading.
Leading the Fight Against Bed Bug
Infestations Nationwide
Lipman Law Firm has successfully filed numerous class action lawsuits related to bed bug infestations in Iowa, Illinois, and California, securing justice for affected tenants and consumers. Our firm has also represented individuals and families in bed bug litigation across 15 states, including Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Attorney Jeff Lipman is a nationally recognized speaker, frequently presenting at industry-leading events such as the National Pest Management Association and the Entomological Society of America. In addition to advocating for victims, Jeff also represents pest control companies and product manufacturers, including PestWest and Allergy Technologies. His expertise has been featured in PMP Magazine, a respected trade publication in the pest control industry.
Lipman Law Firm has a strong track record of achieving significant settlements, including multiple tenant claims exceeding $250,000 in California and a $200,000 settlement in a homeless shelter class action case.
Bed Bug Publications
Contributing Author, with Doggett, Miller & Lee, Advances in the Biology and Management of Modern Bed Bugs, Wiley (2018)
Bed Bug Speaking Engagements
DATES
EVENT
CITY
STATE
8/25/2024
ICE - Bed Bug Legal
Koyoto, Japan
12/7/2022
VPMA - Documentation
Richmond
VA
8/18/2022
NJPMA - Warranties in Pest Control
Branchburg
NJ
9/24/2020
Pest West (Webinar)
4/15/2019
Pest Posse (Online)
11/29/2018
Global Bed Bug Summit
Denver
CO
5/10/2018
Allergy Technology
Dallas
TX
2/7/2018
Clark Pest Control
Sacramento
CA
2/6/2018
Clark Pest Control
Walnut Creek
CA
2/5/2018
Clark Pest Control
Santa Clara
CA
11/7/2017
ESA
Denver
CO
10/26/2017
Allergy Technology
Baltimore
MD
3/30/2017
Yankee Pest Control
Boston
MA
3/14/2017
Bed Bug Central–Legal Landscape
12/2/2016
Global Bed Bug Summit
Indianapolis
IN
12/1/2016
Global Bed Bug Summit
Indianapolis
IN
11/3/2016
NEMPA
Boston
MA
11/2/2016
Global Bed Bug Summit
Indianapolis
IN
4/21/2016
Clark Pest Control
San Diego
CA
4/20/2016
Clark Pest Control
Sacramento
CA
4/19/2016
Clark Pest Control
Concord
CA
4/18/2016
Clark Pest Control
San Jose
CA
2/18/2016
Delaware Pest Control Conference
Wilmington
DE
2/10/2016
NPHA
Lincoln
NE
1/29/2016
NY Pest Management Association
New York
NY
11/12/2015
IPMA
Des Moines
IA
10/27/2015
Iowa Landlords Association
Des Moines
IA
6/26/2015
National Apartment Association
Las Vegas
NV
4/9/2015
Washington County Conservation
Washington
IA
3/2/2015
Minnesota Peat Management
Minneapolis
MN
2/11/2015
Nebraska Housing
Lincoln
NE
11/17/2014
ESA
Portland
OR
9/18/2014
Clark Pest Control
San Mateo
CA
9/17/2014
Clark Pest Control
Reno
CA
9/16/2014
Clark Pest Control
San Diego
CA
5/1/2014
Clark Pest Control
Los Angeles
CA
12/6/2013
NPMA/Bed Bug Central
Denver
CO
10/24/2013
Pest World
Phoenix
AZ
5/16/2013
Clark Pest Control
San Francisco
CA
5/15/2013
Clark Pest Control
Sacramento
CA
5/14/2013
Clark Pest Control
San Diego
CA
3/12/2013
FPA
Manhattan
KS
2/13/2013
NPHA
Lincoln
NE
2/8/2013
Clark Commercial
Lodi
CA
11/14/2012
ESA
Knoxville
TN
10/17/2012
NPMA
Boston
MA
9/6/2012
Bed Bug Central
Las Vegas
NV
5/4/2012
NPMA
Anaheim
CA
4/27/2012
Griffin
South Bend
IN
2/3/2012
Clark Pest Control
San Diego
CA
2/2/2012
Clark Pest Control
Sonoma
CA
2/1/2012
Clark Pest Control
San Francisco / NAPA
CA
11/15/2011
Chicago Condo Association
Chicago
IL
11/10/2011
IPMA
Des Moines
IA
10/20/2011
NPMA
New Orleans
LA
10/7/2011
C.R.L.L. Association
Cedar Rapids
IA
7/27/2011
Quick Kill
Peoria
IL
5/25/2011
Batzner
Appleton
WI
5/24/2011
Batzner
Milwaukee
WI
5/10/2011
NPMA
St. Louis
MO
5/4/2011
NPMA
Chicago
IL
4/20/2011
Minneapolis
MN
2/25/2011
Clark Pest Control
Reno
CA
2/24/2011
Clark Pest Control
San Jose
CA
2/23/2011
Clark Pest Control
San Diego
CA
1/25/2011
Witt
Pittsburgh
PA
1/19/2011
Springer
Cedar Rapids
IA
1/18/2011
Springer
Davenport
IA
10/1/2010
Guaranteed Floridian
Miami
FL
8/1/2010
Arizona Exterminating
Phoenix
AZ
7/1/2010
Springer
Des Moines
IA
- 7/10 Springer, Des Moines, IA
- 8/10 Arizona Exterminating, Phoenix, AZ
- 10/10 Guaranteed Floridian, Miami, FL
- 1/18/11 Springer, Davenport, IA
- 1/19/11 Springer, Cedar Rapids, IA
- 1/25/11 Witt, Pittsburgh, PA
- 2/23/11 Clark Pest Control, San Diego, CA
- 2/24/11 Clark Pest Control, San Jose, CA
- 2/25/11 Clark Pest Control, Reno, CA
- 4/20/11 Minneapolis, MN
- 5/4/11 NPMA, Chicago, IL
- 5/10/11 NPMA, St. Louis, MO
- 5/24/11 Batzner, Milwaukee, WI
- 5/25/11 Batzner, Appleton, WI
- 7/27/11 Quick Kill, Peoria, IL
- 10/7/11 C.R.L.L. Association, Cedar Rapids, IA
- 10/20/11 NPMA, New Orleans, LA
- 11/10/11 IPMA, Des Moines, IA
- 11/15/11 Chicago Condo Association, Chicago, IL
- 2/1/12 Clark Pest Control, San Francisco / NAPA, CA
- 2/2/12 Clark Pest Control, Sonoma, CA
- 2/3/12 Clark, San Diego, CA
- 4/27/12 Griffin, South Bend, IN
- 5/4/12 NPMA, Anaheim, CA
- 9/6/12 Bed Bug Central, Las Vegas, NV
- 10/17/12 NPMA, Boston, MA
- 11/14/12 ESA, Knoxville, TN
- 2/8/13 Clark Commercial, Lodi, CA
- 2/13/13 NPHA, Lincoln, NE
- 3/12/13 FPA, Manhattan, KS
- 5/14/13 Clark Pest Control, San Diego, CA
- 5/15/13 Clark Pest Control Sacramento, CA
- 5/16/13 Clark Pest Control, San Francisco, CA
- 10/24/13 Pest World, Phoenix, AZ
- 12/6/13 NPMA/Bed Bug Central, Denver, CO
- 5/1/14 Clark Pest Control, Los Angeles, CA
- 9/16/14 Clark Pest Control, San Diego, CA
- 9/17/14 Clark Pest Control, Reno, CA
- 9/18/14 Clark Pest Control, San Mateo, CA
- 11/17/14 ESA, Portland, OR
- 2/11/15 Nebraska Housing, Lincoln, NE
- 3/2/15 Minnesota Peat Management, Minneapolis
- 4/9/15 Washington County Conservation, Washington, IA
- 6/26/15 National Apartment Association, Las Vegas
- 10/27/15 Iowa Landlords Association, Des Moines, IA
- 11/12/15 IPMA, Des Moines, IA
- 1/29/16 New York Pest Management Association, NY
- 2/10/16 NPHA, Lincoln, NE
- 2/18/16 Delaware Pest Control Conference, Wilmington, DE
- 4/18/16 Clark Pest Control, San Jose, CA
- 4/19/16 Clark Pest Control, Concord, CA
- 4/20/16 Clark Pest Control, Sacramento, CA
- 4/21/16 Clark Pest Control, San Diego, CA
- 11/2/16 Global Bed Bug Summit, Indianapolis, IN
- 11/3/16 NEMPA, Boston, MA
- 12/1/16 Global Bed Bug Summit, Indianapolis, IN
- 12/2/16 Global Bed Bug Summit Indianapolis, IN
- 3/14/17 Bed Bug Central – Legal Landscape Phone Presentation
- 3/30/17 Yankee Pest Control, Boston, MA
- 10/26/17 Allergy Technology, Baltimore, MD
- 11/7/17 ESA, Denver, CO
- 2/5/18 Clark Pest Control, Santa Clara, CA
- 2/6/2018 Clark Pest Control, Walnut Creek, CA
- 2/7/2018 Clark Pest Control, Sacramento, CA
- 5/10/18 Allergy Technology – Dallas, TX
- 11/29/18 Global Bed Bug Summit – Denver, CO
- 4/15/19 Pest Posse (Online)
- 9/24/20 Pest West – Webinar
- 8/18/22 NJPMA – Warranties in Pest Control, Branchburg, NJ
- 12/7/22 VPMA – Documentation, Richmond, VA
- 8/25/24 ICE – Bed Bug Legal, Kyoto, Japan
REQUEST A FREE CONSULTATION
At Lipman Law Firm, we specialize in consumer class action litigation, with a proven track record in bed bug class action cases. Attorney Jeff Lipman led the first-ever bed bug class action lawsuit in the nation, filed right here in Iowa.
If you or someone you know has suffered due to a landlord’s negligence or a business’s failure to maintain a pest-free environment, you may have legal options. Don’t wait—contact us today for a free consultation and take the first step toward justice.
Verdicts & Settlements
$1,850,000
Represented tenants of apartments owned by Del Hedgepeth, who is a landlord in Kansas City, Missouri, in a class action involving bed bugs, and illegal retention of security deposits. We obtained...
$1,000,000
Bed bug class action against the owner and manager of Walnut Court which is an apartment complex located in Waterloo, Iowa. Case involved a bed bug infestation which worsened over time due to the owner’s attempt at self treating...