A family from California has initiated a negligence lawsuit against the Nugget Casino Resort located in Sparks, Nevada, after encountering a live bat inside their hotel room. This alarming discovery compelled ten family members to receive four rounds of rabies vaccinations, as the bat was released before health officials could conduct any tests.

The lawsuit, submitted on July 1 in Washoe County, details that the Valdez family — consisting of seven adults and four children — traveled from Madera County to the Nugget for the Fourth of July celebration in 2025. Upon discovering the live bat in their accommodation, the family promptly notified the front desk, which dispatched an employee to investigate the issue.

After safely capturing the bat, the employee released it outside, obstructing public health officials from assessing whether the bat was rabid.

Since rabies is nearly always fatal once symptoms manifest, health authorities advised the family to commence precautionary post-exposure protocols as a safety measure. Consequently, ten family members underwent the complete vaccination series, which the lawsuit describes as “excruciating” and “time-consuming.”

The lawsuit claims that the casino resort failed to ensure reasonably safe lodging and exacerbated the family’s risk by dismissing the opportunity to test the bat for rabies.

The Valdez family is seeking over $15,000 in damages, in addition to punitive damages and legal fees. The precise amount has yet to be detailed in court documents.

This incident is reminiscent of a 2023 lawsuit against MGM Resorts’ New York-New York Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, where another family from Arizona discovered a live bat in their room. In that case, plaintiff Marcus Rucker reported that he killed the bat, placed it in a cup, and notified hotel staff, only to find the bat disposed of before testing could occur, prompting the family to start rabies treatment.

The Ruckers also sought a minimum of $15,000 for medical expenses and emotional distress. The outcome of that particular case remains undisclosed.

In 2017, a guest at the Jenny Lake Lodge in Moose, Wyoming, sustained a bite from a bat. Although a hotel staff member assured them that all medical costs would be covered, a lawsuit revealed that the payment was never made. This case ultimately settled in 2021 involving Jenny Lake Lodge, Grand Teton Lodge Company, and Vail Resorts.

Although less than 1% of bats are known to carry rabies, experts point out that bat bites can be hard to perceive due to their small teeth, and individuals who are asleep — especially children — may not realize they have been bitten.