A lawsuit has been filed against a major transportation company, accusing it of negligence and failing to protect its passengers from sexual assaults by its drivers. The complaint was filed by Jane Doe NLG 72 (A.G.) in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, on January 3, 2025, targeting Lyft, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
The plaintiff alleges that Lyft has been aware since at least 2015 that some of its drivers have been sexually assaulting female passengers. Despite this knowledge, the company allegedly failed to implement adequate safety measures such as thorough background checks and driver monitoring systems. The complaint states that Lyft prioritizes profits over passenger safety and accuses the company of "appallingly inadequate" responses to reports of sexual misconduct by its drivers. According to the filing, Lyft's hiring process lacks rigorous screening; potential drivers simply fill out an online form without interviews or biometric fingerprinting. The plaintiff claims that this lax approach allows sexual predators to continue driving for Lyft, endangering passengers.
Jane Doe NLG 72 (A.G.) recounts being assaulted by a Lyft driver in November 2024, an experience she describes as having a devastating impact on her life. She argues that Lyft's public assurances about passenger safety are misleading and that the company's failure to act on known risks constitutes intentional misrepresentation. The lawsuit seeks damages for general negligence, negligent hiring and supervision, breach of contract, and other claims related to the alleged assaults.
The plaintiff is seeking compensatory damages for past and future pain and suffering, medical expenses, loss of earnings, and punitive damages aimed at deterring future misconduct by Lyft. The lawsuit also demands a jury trial to address these grievances.
Representing Jane Doe NLG 72 (A.G.) are attorneys John Raggio and Arati Furness from Nachawati Law Group based in Dallas, Texas. The case is filed under Case No.CGC25621150 with proceedings taking place in San Francisco Superior Court.