CHARLESTON — Two lawsuits were filed against CT Corporation for bedbugs encountered at the Motel 6 in Charleston.
Elroy Jones and Oneal Sandidge, both of Midlothian, Va., filed the lawsuits in Kanawha Circuit Court against the motel.
Jones' complaint states that he was bitten by bedbugs at the hotel on July 10, 2017, which caused him great suffering, according to the complaint filed in Kanawha Circuit Court.
Jones claims he suffered injuries to his body and pain from the injuries due to the bedbug bites.
"I was taken to a Charleston...hospital in a zip body bag by ambulance, which caused me additional stress," his complaint states.
Jones is seeking $30,000 in damages. He is representing himself.
Oneal Sandidge filed a nearly identical complaint against CT Corporation, alleging he was also bitten by bedbugs on the same date at the same motel.
Sandidge claimed the injuries caused him both physical pain and psychological stress. He claimed he was also taken to the hospital via ambulance in a "zip body bag."
Sandidge is seeking damages in the amount of $40,000. He is also representing himself.
The of the plaintiffs claim the motel is operating under another name now.
The cases are assigned to Circuit Judge Jennifer Bailey.
Several years ago a bedbug epidemic plagued West Virginia. There were reports of bedbugs in libraries, hotels, schools and apartment complexes.
At one point, The Legal Aid of West Virginia office in Beckley even had its own bedbug task force.
There are several websites to check if reports have been made by patrons involving bedbugs, including bedbugregistry.com and bedbugreports.com. Neither site has data for Motel 6 in Charleston or any hotel with the address 6311 Maccorkle Ave SE. An Econo Lodge Hotel is listed as the name that is at that location now.
Kanawha Circuit Court Case numbers: 18-C-1444, 18-C-1445