A harrowing legal battle has unfolded as a Texas woman, identified only as Jane Doe PWP 117, files a lawsuit against the ride-sharing giant Lyft, Inc. The complaint was filed on March 6, 2025, in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco. The plaintiff accuses Lyft of negligence and vicarious liability following an alleged sexual assault by one of its drivers.
The lawsuit paints a grim picture of Lyft's operational practices, accusing the company of failing to protect its passengers from known dangers. According to the complaint, since 2015, Lyft has been aware that some of its drivers have sexually assaulted female passengers. Despite this knowledge, the plaintiff alleges that Lyft has not implemented adequate safety measures or conducted thorough background checks on its drivers. The complaint states that "Lyft continues to hire drivers without performing adequate background checks" and "has failed to adopt and implement reasonable driver monitoring procedures." These failures allegedly led to Jane Doe being assaulted by a Lyft driver in San Antonio, Texas.
Jane Doe recounts her traumatic experience with a Lyft driver named Rafael C., who allegedly assaulted her during a ride on March 25, 2023. The complaint details how the driver pulled into a remote area and made unwanted advances towards her. In her struggle to escape, she suffered physical injuries and continues to endure emotional distress. The lawsuit argues that Lyft's inadequate safety protocols directly contributed to this incident.
The plaintiff is seeking substantial damages for both economic and non-economic losses resulting from the incident. She demands compensation for medical expenses, loss of earnings, pain and suffering, and punitive damages aimed at deterring future misconduct by Lyft. The lawsuit also calls for changes in Lyft's operational practices to prevent further assaults.
Representing Jane Doe are attorneys Rachel B. Abrams and Adam B. Wolf from Peiffer Wolf Carr Kane Conway & Wise LLP based in San Francisco. They are joined by Adam K. Pulaski and D. Douglas Grubbs from Pulaski Kherkher PLLC in Houston, Texas. The case is presided over by Judge Austin Lam under Case ID CGC-25-623042.