A woman who became ill after allegedly staying in a moldy hotel room is suing the hotel and its operators.
Lori Ficarra filed a complaint July 24 in Cook County Circuit Court against Hilton Worldwide Inc., HPP Hotels USA Inc. and LCP Berkshire LLC, doing business as the Drake Hotel.
On Aug. 23, 2013, Ficarra was a guest at the Drake Hotel, which is operated or owned by the other defendants. According to the lawsuit, Ficarra became ill on Aug. 24 through about Aug. 27, on which day she began to cough up blood and became a patient at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Ficarra developed breathing problems, headaches, allergies, rashes and an upper respiratory infection during her stay, the lawsuit states, as a result of walls, ceilings and floors on which mold, mildew fungi and other microorganisms were allegedly allowed to grow.
As a result of the condition and defendants allowing it to persist, the lawsuit states, Ficarra allegedly became severely ill, experienced the compromise of her business trip to Chicago, and underwent pain and suffering, and medical expenses.
The plaintiff, citing negligence and nuisance, seeks damages of more than $100,000, plus court costs and attorneys' fees.
The plaintiff is represented by Jeffrey S. Deutschman and Bradley A. Skafish of Deutschman and Associates PC in Chicago.
Cook County Circuit Court case number 2015L007547.