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TOPLINE
Airbnb plans to sue a guest who threw an unauthorized party in Sacramento, California, over the weekend where three people were wounded in a shooting, the company announced Wednesday, as the home-sharing company struggles to prevent large, dangerous gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic.
In this photo illustration a Hospitality service provider application airbnb logo seen displayed on … [+]
Photo Illustration by Avishek Das/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
KEY FACTS
Airbnb plans to argue the guest was negligent, in violation of local health orders, in violation of Airbnb guidelines and “booked the listing under false pretenses.”
Airbnb will donate any money won from the lawsuit to nonprofits addressing gun violence in the Sacramento area.
This is the first time Airbnb has taken legal action against a customer for throwing an unauthorized house party.
No arrests have been made, and the shooting is under investigation.
Airbnb has tried to crack down on house parties during the pandemic, and recently banned customers under 25 from booking entire houses if they have a negative review or three less-than-positive reviews.
Large parties have provoked the ire of local health officials across the country, with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti pointing out last week that many are held in short-term rental properties. Garcetti also threatened to shut off water and power to houses that repeatedly flout local health orders.
Key background
Though house parties are of heightened concern during the pandemic, this isn’t the first time Airbnb house parties have resulted in tragic violence. After a Halloween party in Oakland last year left five dead, the company overhauled its safety measures by creating a 24/7 neighbor hotline for neighbors to report concerns directly to the company and pledging to verify all 7 million listings on its platform.
Tangent
After delaying its highly anticipated IPO and laying off 25% of its workforce because of the coronavirus, Airbnb reportedly plans to file paperwork to go public later this month.
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