A Maryland resident has filed a lawsuit against multiple corporations, alleging negligence and breach of settlement. Tia Vonderpool filed the complaint in the Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County, Florida, on September 11, 2024, against BWPGA, LLC., AD 1 Management, Inc., and Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc.
The case centers around an incident that occurred on November 4, 2020. According to the complaint, Vonderpool was a paying guest at the Best Western Plus Palm Beach Gardens Hotel & Suites in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The plaintiff alleges that during her stay at the hotel—owned and managed by BWPGA, LLC., and AD 1 Management, Inc.—she encountered a room infested with bed bugs. Vonderpool claims that this infestation led to bodily injury resulting in pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, mental anguish, and loss of capacity for enjoyment of life. She also asserts that these injuries are either permanent or continuing.
Vonderpool accuses BWPGA, LLC., of failing to maintain the premises in a reasonably safe condition and neglecting to warn guests about potential dangers. "Defendant BWPGA, LLC., breached the duty and negligently maintained the premises by permitting the aforementioned room to become and remain infested with bed bugs," reads one part of the complaint. Similar allegations are made against AD 1 Management, Inc., which is also accused of negligent pest control practices.
In addition to these negligence claims against BWPGA and AD 1 Management, Vonderpool has brought forth accusations against Sedgwick Claims Management Services for breach of settlement agreement. On October 23, 2023—acting as a third-party general liability claim administrator for AD 1 Management—Sedgwick offered to settle Vonderpool's claim for $15,000. This offer was accepted by Vonderpool; however, Sedgwick later attempted to reduce the settlement amount unilaterally to $2,500. Despite agreeing upon clear terms initially set forth in writing between both parties, Sedgwick allegedly failed to honor this agreement.
As a result of these alleged breaches and negligence acts by all three defendants involved—BWPGA LLC., AD 1 Management Inc., and Sedgwick Claims Management Services—the plaintiff seeks damages exceeding $50,000 exclusive of interest and costs from each defendant separately for their respective counts mentioned above along with any other relief deemed justifiable by court judgment.
Representing Tia Vonderpool is John D Ameen from Law Offices Of John D Ameen P.A.. The case will be presided over under Case ID:502024CA008701 XXXAMB Div:AD.