A commercial pilot is suing the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel after a swarm of bats invaded his room on August 29, leading to a bite and a costly series of rabies shots. The pilot, whose name is being withheld to protect his employment, was in Denver for work training when the incident occurred.
According to the lawsuit, the pilot awoke around 2:30 a.m. to the sound of commotion and discovered multiple bats flying inside his hotel room. He notified hotel maintenance, who removed the pests, but the hotel did not offer him a different room. The pilot later found a hole in the room's air conditioning unit, which he believes allowed the bats to enter. He attempted to seal the opening with a towel.
After falling back asleep, the pilot awoke to find a single bat still in the room. Animal control was called to remove the final bat. Workers from animal control informed the pilot that some bats in the area had tested positive for rabies and advised him to seek immediate medical treatment. The pilot discovered he had been bitten on the foot and subsequently underwent a series of rabies shots near his home in Anaheim, California. The medical bills for this treatment exceeded $100,000.
The pilot's attorney, Edward Lomena, stated that his client experienced significant fear of contracting rabies and leaving his family behind. The traumatic experience has also impacted the pilot's ability to sleep in hotel rooms, which is a necessity for his job. The lawsuit aims to secure compensation for the medical bills and the emotional distress caused by the incident.
Lomena indicated that settlement talks with Marriott International, the parent company of Sheraton, were initiated but proved unsuccessful, with the company allegedly offering a small sum and stating such incidents occur without fault. Marriott International did not immediately respond to a request for comment.