A Florida woman has filed a lawsuit against her former apartment complex, alleging that a severe spider infestation in her unit led to multiple bites and ultimately forced the amputation of two of her toes.
A Year of Pain and Neglect
Patricia Shields took legal action in Pinellas County Court against the Grand Oak Apartments in Largo, Florida. The suit, filed in January 2026, stems from events that began shortly after she moved into the complex a year prior. Shields, who is disabled and on a fixed income under the Section 8 housing assistance program, claims her complaints about the spiders were repeatedly ignored by management.
"It's been a long year, I just want it to be over," Shields told local news outlet WDBJ. She described the bites as causing a burning sensation. "They hurt. They burned. It's a burning feeling." The loss of her toes has also taken an emotional toll. "It's embarrassing and I hate having to explain myself all the time," she said.
Infection Ignored, Leading to Amputation
According to the lawsuit, Shields first noticed spiders emerging from her bathroom vent just two weeks after moving in. She immediately notified the apartment management. Shockingly, she alleges they told her they would only address cockroach infestations and suggested she pay to have the vents cleaned herself.
The bites began soon after, first on her forehead and then on her legs, requiring multiple doctor visits. In a desperate attempt to prove the severity of the problem, Shields even brought a bag of captured spiders to the front desk. She claims staff dismissed them as "not venomous."
The situation reached a critical point in June 2025. Shields was bitten on her big toe by a large brown spider while walking out of her bathroom. The bite site became severely infected, and doctors were forced to amputate the toe. Her physician warned her she was "risking her life" by remaining in the infested unit. Despite this, the lawsuit states Grand Oak Apartments refused to release her from her lease.
Tragedy struck again two months later when a subsequent spider bite led to the amputation of a second toe. In total, Shields suffered nine documented spider bites while living in the apartment.
Seeking Justice and a Return to Normal Life
"They threw them away or blew me off," Shields stated regarding her repeated complaints to management. "And then, the very last time, when I went and asked them to release me from the lease mutual agreement, they told me no."
Since moving out, Shields claims she has been homeless. Her lawsuit accuses Grand Oak Apartments and other defendants of negligence for failing to address the dangerous infestation. "I just want everything settled," she said. "I really just want to go back to my life."
Patricia Shields is seeking $50,000 in damages for her medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other losses resulting from the ordeal.
