NEWS STORY - NOVEMBER 2019



LOYOLA LEASING COMPANY SUED by former resident for BED BUGs INFESTATION





Loyola University Chicago is being sued for not taking proper care of a bed bug problem in one of the apartment complexes it owns.


The complaint, which was filed against the university in October by former resident Michael Marshalok and his attorney, states that Loyola knew there was a bed bug infestation in one of their buildings but did not take appropriate action to get rid of them or warn the tenant of the problem before moving in.


Loyola operates a property leasing company under the trade name Lakeside Management. According to the company's website, Lakeside offers “contemporary, vintage and newly renovated apartments… in premier Chicago locations like Edgewater, Rogers Park and River North.”


In May 2018, the plaintiff moved into one of Lakeside's properties at 1040 W. Granville called The Sovereign. The apartment complex was constructed in the 1920s and is only a few minutes away from the university’s main campus.


After moving in, Marshalok claims that bed bugs in his unit fed off of him and forced him to destroy personal property such as furniture and clothing. He is suing Loyola for personal injury and is asking for compensatory damages not to exceed $30,000.


The complaint says that Loyola was aware or should have been aware of the issue through reasonable care. Marshalok is arguing that Lakeside Management violated the Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance, citing that the landlord failed to exterminate insects, provide pest control and maintain the apartment in a habitable condition.


Bed bugs are insects that often live in mattresses and other types of furniture. They feed on human blood and reproduce by laying eggs around the house. When they bite people who are sleeping, they can leave painful, itchy welts and spread dangerous infections.


Marshalok isn’t the only resident who’s been unhappy with living conditions at The Sovereign. According to apartmentratings.com, the building has a two-star average rating and the majority of reviewers would not recommend anyone to move in.


“There is no recycling in the building,” wrote a supposed resident of the Sovereign in November. “There are bugs. The shower only has hot water about once every few days. There are light switches but no actual lights they are connected to.”


Loyola has not directly commented on the case and is scheduled to respond to the Marshalok and his attorney by the end of the year.