Las Vegas hotel bed bugs leave tourist with ‘permanent scarring,’ lawsuit says

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A woman claims bed bug bites she said she received at a Las Vegas hotel have left her with “permanent scarring,” according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday.

Krystal Nailer, who lives in Mississippi, said she woke up at the STRAT Hotel, Casino & Tower in October 2022, finding “painful welts on her left leg and buttocks,” documents said. Nailer also saw a bed bug on the bed, the lawsuit said.

Bed bugs are small parasitic insects that feed on blood and often hide in bedding, hence their name.

“[Nailer] immediately notified the front desk, and a hotel employee was sent up to inspect the room,” documents said. “The employee took an incident report and provided [her] with hydrocortisone cream for her injuries.”

Nailer “suffered terrible itching and pain for weeks” and has “permanent scarring,” the lawsuit said. Because of the bites, Nailer said she incurred mental costs and had to replace clothing and other belongings.

The lawsuit notes at no time prior to October 2022 did Nailer suffer from bed bug bites or see any in her home.

Earlier this year, 8 News Now reported that inspectors with the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) found bed bugs at four Strip properties between late 2023 and early 2024. The discoveries happened across all hotel classes.

SNHD officials previously told 8 News Now it would not leverage a fine should the property address the problem and not incur repeated complaints.

The Nevada Resort Association, speaking on behalf of all Strip hotels, released a statement earlier this year on the bed bug discoveries.

“Unfortunately, these pests can be transported anywhere unwittingly in luggage and clothing,” the statement said in part. “While incredibly rare, when reported, our members take swift action in accordance with health and safety requirements.”

Representatives for the STRAT did not immediately return a request for comment.

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