Jane Doe T.F. has filed a lawsuit against Uber Technologies, Inc., Rasier, LLC, and Rasier-CA, LLC in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco on October 8, 2024. The case accuses Uber and its subsidiaries of negligence leading to her assault by an Uber driver.
The complaint alleges that Jane Doe was assaulted by an Uber driver after requesting a ride through the Uber App on October 16, 2022. The lawsuit claims that Uber is vicariously liable for the driver's actions as a common carrier under California law. It accuses Uber of failing to implement adequate safety measures despite being aware since at least 2014 that its drivers have been involved in numerous incidents of sexual assault against passengers. According to the complaint, "Uber has acted in conscious disregard of the safety of its passengers," prioritizing growth over passenger safety and fostering a culture that endangered women.
The plaintiff's legal team highlights several accusations against Uber: general negligence, negligent hiring and supervision, common carrier negligence, negligent failure to warn passengers about potential risks, and breach of contract. The complaint asserts that Uber's background checks are inadequate and that it does not provide sufficient training or monitoring for its drivers. Furthermore, it claims that Uber misled customers into believing they were safe while using the service by promoting itself as a secure transportation option.
Jane Doe seeks compensatory damages for economic and non-economic losses resulting from the assault. She also demands punitive damages due to what she describes as "wanton and reckless disregard" for passenger safety by Uber. The plaintiff argues that if proper precautions had been taken by the company—such as implementing video monitoring or allowing female riders to choose female drivers—the likelihood of such assaults could have been significantly reduced.
Representing Jane Doe T.F., attorneys Kathryn Forgie and Sommer D. Luther from Wagstaff Law Firm argue their client's case before Judge Austin Lam under Case ID CGC-24-618790.