Airbnb Host Must Arbitrate Suit Over Alleged Problem Renter

Airbnb Inc. had sufficient contact with Pennsylvania to face a lawsuit there from an Airbnb host whose guest refused to leave, but the company can still arbitrate the dispute, a federal court ruled.

The ruling could potentially open up Airbnb and similar companies to be sued in more places where they operate a website that contracts with users.

James Foresta sued Airbnb in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Foresta alleges he rented his property on Airbnb for one night to a man who barricaded himself in the apartment, changed the locks, assaulted the plaintiff with ...