In a gripping legal battle that could have significant implications for ride-sharing safety, a plaintiff has filed a lawsuit against Uber Technologies, Inc. and its subsidiary Rasier, LLC, alleging negligence and vicarious liability for a sexual assault by an Uber driver. The complaint was filed on March 18, 2025, in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco. The plaintiff is seeking damages following an alleged incident involving false imprisonment and sexual assault during an Uber ride.
The plaintiff, identified only as D.C., accuses Uber of failing to protect her from harm despite being aware of ongoing issues with driver misconduct. According to the complaint, "Uber knew or should have known that some Uber drivers would continue to sexually assault and/or otherwise attack its passengers." The document outlines how Uber's business model allegedly prioritizes rapid expansion over passenger safety by not implementing adequate background checks or training for its drivers. It further claims that since at least 2014, Uber has been aware of sexual assaults committed by its drivers but has failed to take meaningful action to prevent such incidents.
The lawsuit details the traumatic experience faced by the plaintiff on April 11, 2023. During her ride booked through the Uber app, she was allegedly subjected to unwanted sexual advances by the driver who exposed himself and propositioned her in exchange for a free ride. After refusing his advances, she was forced out of the vehicle before reaching her destination. This incident left her feeling "frightened, humiliated," and violated her sense of safety and dignity.
The plaintiff's attorneys argue that Uber’s marketing falsely assures customers of their safety while using the service. They allege intentional misrepresentation on Uber's part regarding the safety measures in place for riders: "Uber represented to Plaintiff and the general public that safety is Uber's top priority," despite knowing about numerous past incidents involving driver misconduct.
In addition to seeking compensatory damages exceeding $25,000 for economic losses and emotional distress suffered due to this ordeal, the plaintiff is also pursuing punitive damages aimed at penalizing Uber for what they describe as grossly negligent conduct motivated by profit over passenger protection.
Representing D.C., attorneys Khaldoun A. Baghdadi and Sara M. Peters from Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger are joined by Roopal P. Luhana and Nicholas Farnolo from Chaffin Luhana LLP (pending pro hac vice admission). The case is presided over under Case ID CGC-25-623386 in front of Judge Sahar Enayati.