A shocking lawsuit has been filed against a major transportation company, accusing it of negligence and failing to protect its passengers from sexual assault. The complaint was lodged by Jane Doe PWKG 011 in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, on November 4, 2024, targeting Lyft Inc., a prominent ridesharing service.
The plaintiff, Jane Doe PWKG 011, alleges that Lyft has long been aware of sexual assaults perpetrated by its drivers but has failed to take adequate measures to prevent such incidents. According to the complaint, as early as 2015, Lyft became aware that some of its drivers were sexually assaulting female passengers. Despite numerous complaints and criminal investigations highlighting these attacks, the company allegedly continued hiring drivers without proper background checks and failed to implement reasonable safety measures. "Lyft's response to this sexual predator crisis amongst Lyft drivers has been appallingly inadequate," states the lawsuit.
Jane Doe PWKG 011 recounts her own harrowing experience with a Lyft driver who allegedly assaulted her during a ride in Ohio on November 3, 2023. The complaint details how the driver exposed himself and made inappropriate advances towards her. When she attempted to escape at a stoplight, she found the doors locked and was forced to continue the ride until she could safely exit near her destination.
The lawsuit accuses Lyft of multiple counts including general negligence, negligent hiring and supervision, common carrier negligence, and intentional misrepresentation among others. It claims that Lyft prioritizes profits over passenger safety by neglecting thorough driver screening processes and failing to monitor rides effectively. The plaintiff argues that Lyft's misleading marketing campaigns falsely assure passengers of their safety while using the service.
The plaintiff seeks various forms of relief from the court including general damages for pain and suffering, special damages for medical expenses and loss of earnings, punitive damages for deterrence purposes, prejudgment interest, and coverage for legal costs incurred. The case highlights significant concerns about passenger safety within ridesharing services and raises questions about corporate responsibility in protecting vulnerable users.
Representing Jane Doe PWKG 011 are attorneys Rachel B. Abrams from Peiffer Wolf Carr Kane Conway & Wise LLP based in San Francisco and Sadi R. Antonmattei-Goitia from Kherkher Garcia LLP in Houston. The case is filed under Case No. CGC-24-619525 with no specific judge named yet.