In a striking legal battle, a California resident has filed a lawsuit against a major ridesharing company, alleging negligence and multiple other charges following an alleged sexual assault by one of its drivers. The complaint was lodged by Jane Doe PWP 075 in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco on November 12, 2024, targeting Uber Technologies, Inc., Rasier, LLC, and several unnamed defendants.
The lawsuit unfolds a harrowing narrative where Jane Doe claims she was sexually assaulted by an Uber driver during a ride she booked through the Uber app on October 25, 2021. According to the plaintiff's attorneys from Peiffer Wolf Carr Kane Conway & Wise LLP and Pulaski Kherkher PLLC, Uber is accused of general negligence, negligent hiring and supervision, vicarious liability for its driver's actions including sexual assault and battery, intentional misrepresentation regarding safety claims, and breach of contract among others. The plaintiff argues that despite being aware since at least 2014 that its drivers were committing sexual assaults against passengers, Uber failed to implement adequate safety measures or warn passengers about these risks. "Uber has acted in conscious disregard for the safety of its passengers," states the complaint.
Jane Doe's lawsuit seeks damages exceeding $25,000 as well as punitive damages to deter similar conduct in the future. She accuses Uber of prioritizing profits over passenger safety by failing to conduct thorough background checks or implement effective monitoring systems for its drivers. Furthermore, the plaintiff alleges that Uber’s marketing falsely assured users of safe rides without revealing the true risks involved. "Uber represented to Plaintiff and the general public that its services are safe and reliable," but continued to allow unsafe conditions to persist.
The legal team representing Jane Doe includes Rachel B. Abrams and Adam B. Wolf from Peiffer Wolf Carr Kane Conway & Wise LLP based in San Francisco, alongside Adam K. Pulaski and D. Douglas Grubbs from Pulaski Kherkher PLLC in Houston. The case is filed under Case No. CGC-24-619716 with Judge Austin Lam serving as Deputy Clerk.