A former Loyola University student has filed sexual assault charges against the ride-hailing company Uber, alleging that she was attacked by her driver and an accomplice.

The plaintiff filed these sexual assault charges anonymously and is referred to throughout as “Jane Doe.” According to the lawsuit, Jane Doe was sexually assaulted by an Uber driver while using the Uber app in February 2017. She was inebriated and chose to take an Uber—which Uber’s ads said was “the safe choice,” the lawsuit notes.

Jane attempted to take an Uber safely back to her dorm, but she blacked out on the ride there. When she woke up, the Uber driver had taken her to a location she had not requested, and she was being sexually assaulted by the driver, whom the lawsuit identifies as John K.

After she was examined at a medical center, it was found that she had DNA in her cervical area that matched another man, an accomplice of the driver, Charles V.  Photo evidence was later found on John’s phone.

According to the lawsuit, Charles V. has since been convicted of Rape in the Second Degree, Sex Offense in the Third Degree, and Assault in the Second Degree, and is awaiting sentencing.

Impact of Assault

After the attack, Jane was severely impacted mentally and emotionally, missing school days and college coursework. She began seeing a counselor, and though she remained in school initially, her GPA dropped dramatically as she suffered from the trauma of that night. Eventually, once it hit the point where Jane began contemplating suicide, she decided to leave Loyola, put her academic career on hold, and return home.

To manage the insomnia, anxiety, and anxiety-induced high blood pressure caused by the assault, Jane has been prescribed a whole slew of drugs, and has been unable to return to school.

Uber at Fault?

Since the attack, it has been found that the Uber driver, John, had actually lost his Uber driving certificate a week before the attack. However, the ride-hailing app failed to terminate his use of the app, so he used it to pick up and subsequently assault Jane Doe. Posing as a legitimate Uber driver is a tactic more than one person has used to attack or assault a passenger.

Jane’s lawsuit alleges that Uber’s employee background check process is “inadequate and careless,” and that the company materially misrepresents its company as providing the “safest rides on the road.” Her claim says the company specifically targets intoxicated passengers, placing them at risk from potentially dangerous drivers.

Jane’s case is, tragically, far from the only one like it. Uber recently released a safety report with statistics about sexual assaults related to the use of its app, including nearly 6,000 reports of sexual assault and nearly 500 reports of rape. Around 3,000 of those reports were from 2018 alone.

Lyft drivers have also been accused of rape and assault.

In response to Jane’s sexual assault charges against Uber, the company released this statement: “Nobody should have to go through what this woman reported to police.” The lawsuit called this statement, “hollow,” and says that this is the same statement the company has recycled over the last seven years of assault reports by female passengers.

The lawsuit was filed on multiple counts, including negligence; negligent hiring, supervision, and retention; fraud; battery; and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Filing an Uber Sexual Assault Lawsuit

If you or someone you love has been a victim of sexual abuse or assault while using a rideshare service like Uber in the last two years, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. Consulting a rideshare lawyer can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.

Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, especially in the wake of a traumatic event, so Top Class actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.

The Uber Sexual Assault Lawsuit is Case No. 1:20-cv-00370-JKB, in the U.S. District Court for the Baltimore Division of the District of Maryland.

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.