"So the next morning he gets up, and that's when he sees, hanging from the curtain rod, a bat hanging upside down," said Lomena.
Denver Animal Control later captured the animal for rabies testing, and the pilot sought immediate medical treatment after discovering a bite on his foot.
"He was bit by a bat," said Lomena. "He was scared he was going to die and leave his family without a father."
The encounter occurred roughly a month after Denver Animal Protection discovered two rabid bats in the city.
Medical records indicate the pilot accrued nearly $100,000 in insurance-covered bills for rabies vaccines and preventative treatments.
"He's always staying in hotels because of his job, so now anytime he goes to a hotel he's constantly searching around the room, looking for openings, looking for ways wildlife can get into his room," said Lomena.
"It's hard for him to sleep."
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The pilot ultimately tested negative for rabies, and representatives for Marriott and the Sheraton Denver Hotel Downtown did not respond to inquiries for comment regarding the active lawsuit.
