On December 30, 2024, a lawsuit was filed in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, accusing a major ridesharing company of failing to protect its passengers from sexual assaults by its drivers. The complaint was lodged by plaintiffs Jane Doe CL 79 and Jane Doe CL 80 against Lyft, Inc., highlighting a disturbing pattern of negligence and misconduct that has allegedly endangered countless female passengers.
The lawsuit details a series of alarming allegations against Lyft, asserting that the company has been aware since at least 2015 that some of its drivers were sexually assaulting female passengers. Despite this knowledge, the plaintiffs argue that Lyft's response has been grossly inadequate. "Lyft continues to hire drivers without performing adequate background checks," the complaint states, adding that the company allows drivers with complaints of rape and sexual assault to continue operating under their platform. This alleged negligence has led to numerous assaults, including those suffered by the plaintiffs in this case.
Plaintiff Jane Doe CL 79 claims she was assaulted on January 1, 2022, in Summerville, South Carolina. According to her account, while using Lyft's service, her driver made inappropriate comments and then proceeded to caress her thighs during the ride. Similarly, Jane Doe CL 80 alleges she was assaulted on January 4, 2021, in Tallahassee, Florida. Her driver allegedly made inappropriate comments before attempting to touch her inappropriately after reaching her destination. Both women reported feeling unsafe and have sought medical treatment for their injuries.
The plaintiffs accuse Lyft of prioritizing profits over passenger safety by failing to implement effective monitoring systems or perform thorough background checks on drivers. They allege that Lyft’s business model encourages rapid driver onboarding without sufficient scrutiny or oversight—practices they claim have contributed significantly to the risk faced by passengers.
In their legal filing, the plaintiffs seek various forms of relief from the court. They are asking for special damages covering past and future medical expenses as well as general damages for emotional distress and other impacts suffered due to these incidents. Additionally, they are pursuing punitive damages against Lyft for what they describe as conscious disregard for passenger safety.
Representing the plaintiffs is Cutter Law P.C., with attorneys C. Brooks Cutter leading the case alongside Jennifer S. Domer and Celine E. Cutter. The case is being overseen under Case ID CGC-24-621059 at the Superior Court of California in San Francisco.