In a gripping legal battle that underscores the growing concerns over passenger safety in ride-sharing services, a group of plaintiffs has filed a lawsuit against Uber Technologies, Inc. and its subsidiaries, Rasier, LLC and Rasier-CA, LLC. The complaint was lodged on February 13, 2025, in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco. The plaintiffs allege that they were victims of assault by Uber drivers and accuse the company of fostering a toxic culture that prioritizes growth over safety.
The lawsuit details harrowing accounts from multiple plaintiffs who claim they were assaulted by Uber drivers. These incidents are part of a broader pattern of alleged negligence by Uber to address sexual assault issues within its service. The plaintiffs argue that Uber's leadership, including former CEO Travis Kalanick and current CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, failed to implement adequate safety measures despite being aware of ongoing assaults since as early as 2014. "Uber’s response to these ongoing sexual assaults by Uber drivers has been slow and inadequate," the complaint states, highlighting the company's alleged failure to protect its passengers.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages for injuries suffered during their rides with Uber. They argue that the company misled them into believing they were using a safe service through false advertising and inadequate background checks on drivers. The complaint accuses Uber of several counts including general negligence, negligent hiring and supervision, common carrier negligence, negligent failure to warn passengers about potential dangers, intentional misrepresentation regarding safety measures, breach of contract, and product liability related to design defects and failure to warn.
The lawsuit demands punitive damages for what it describes as "wanton and reckless disregard" for passenger safety. It also seeks compensation for economic losses and emotional distress suffered by the plaintiffs due to their traumatic experiences with Uber drivers. The legal action calls into question not only the operational practices at Uber but also its corporate culture which allegedly disregards passenger welfare in favor of rapid expansion.
Representing the plaintiffs are attorneys John Raggio and Arati Furness from Nachawati Law Group based in Dallas, Texas. The case is presided over under Case No. AEG45 622348 in the San Francisco Superior Court.