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Family Sues Marriott International Inc. After Allegedly Contracting Bed Bugs

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A couple is suing Marriott International Inc. claiming they contracted hundreds of bed bug bites from a vacation stay in Hawaii, according to court papers filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court.

Sharyn Eles and Douglas Wade allege breach-of-contract, negligence, fraud and deceit and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Wade claims he suffered more than 500 bites and his daughter suffered more than 300. Eles allegedly was bit more than 150 times, according to the suit.

The family visited the Marriott Resort & Beach Club on Kauai on Feb. 18, 2011.

After three days, they allegedly started to get bumps all over their skin.

The family said they thought it was just mosquito bites.

After a week, they contacted housekeeping, and an employee checked the mattress.

"The evidence of infestation was overwhelming," according to the suit. "Not only did the plaintiffs see live blood-engorged bed bugs, there were also bugs varying in sizes and stages of life on and in crevices of the mattresses."

Once the family returned home, they hired pest control to fumigate the house in case they brought the bugs with them.

According to the suit, Eles and Wade had to explain the condition to their bosses, and their daughter's classmates called her the "bed bug girl."

(©2012 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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