In a significant judicial determination, Uber can potentially be held vicariously liable after one of its drivers allegedly assaulted a passenger. This ruling was based on a lawsuit where the plaintiff is seeking $15 million in damages from the well-known rideshare company. The federal judge presiding over the case relied upon South Carolina law to arrive at this ruling.
Rommel Fuentes, the plaintiff, filed a negligence complaint against Uber Technologies and other affiliated entities. The driver at the heart of the issue, Kehinde Idogho Micah, was also named in the lawsuit. Notably, the case was initially filed in the Arlington County Circuit Court, but was later moved to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in April 2023.
According to Fuentes’ allegations, after being dropped off at their desired location, the driver exited the vehicle to confront him and another passenger, accusing them of not having paid for the ride. The assault purportedly occurred during this dispute.
U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr, rejecting Uber’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s vicarious liability claims, stated,“Here, based on the facts alleged in the Complaint, Micah was at the address as part of his business driving for Uber and assaulted Plaintiff to coerce payment of a debt owed to Uber; therefore, a reasonable jury could determine that … the assault was in furtherance of Uber’s business”.
For more detailed information around the case and its broader implications, you can visit the original news coverage on The Law.com.