Home · Technology · Sep 20 archive
Uber to Pay $40M to Parents of Woman Fatally Struck by Car
Confirmed
In Short: In a five-day arbitration process, Judge Richard Stone ordered Uber to pay $40 million to the parents of Emily Normandin-Parker, a 23-year-old UCLA graduate who was fatally struck by another vehicle after being forced out of an Uber by her driver.
Normandin-Parker and her friend Luna Moore had booked an Uber for a ride home after a night out on August 12, 2023. Moore became sick during the ride and vomited in the car.
According to the arbitration award, the driver, Tran, pulled over to the side of the highway and ordered the women out of the car. GPS data showed that Tran drove near Normandin-Parker's body before taking the next exit and calling Uber to seek a cleaning fee.
Stone rejected Uber's argument that it is merely a technology company connecting riders with drivers, finding that Uber provides transportation services to the public through its app, sets prices, and controls key aspects of the rider experience.
The judge also found Uber vicariously liable for Tran's negligence as a common carrier, despite Uber's claim that the driver was an independent contractor and the company was not responsible for his actions.
Normandin-Parker's parents, Carol Normandin and Ken Parker, said in a statement that their daughter did everything Uber told riders to do, making the responsible choice not to drive and trusting Uber to get her home safely.
Uber initially proposed a settlement of $10 million, which the family declined. The company said it believed the arbitrator was wrong in holding the company legally responsible for the event.
The family's attorneys noted that evidence presented during the arbitration showed Uber had received previous complaints about Tran's driving.
What's confirmed
- Normandin-Parker and her friend Luna Moore had booked an Uber for a ride home after a night out on August 12, 2023. Moore became sick during the ride and vomited in the car.
- According to the arbitration award, the driver, Tran, pulled over to the side of the highway and ordered the women out of the car. GPS data showed that Tran drove near Normandin-Parker's body before taking the next exit and calling Uber to seek a cleaning fee.
- Stone rejected Uber's argument that it is merely a technology company connecting riders with drivers, finding that Uber provides transportation services to the public through its app, sets prices, and controls key aspects of the rider experience.
- The judge also found Uber vicariously liable for Tran's negligence as a common carrier, despite Uber's claim that the driver was an independent contractor and the company was not responsible for his actions.
- Normandin-Parker's parents, Carol Normandin and Ken Parker, said in a statement that their daughter did everything Uber told riders to do, making the responsible choice not to drive and trusting Uber to get her home safely.
- Uber initially proposed a settlement of $10 million, which the family declined. The company said it believed the arbitrator was wrong in holding the company legally responsible for the event.
- The family's attorneys noted that evidence presented during the arbitration showed Uber had received previous complaints about Tran's driving.
What's still developing
- Carol Normandin and Ken Parker, the parents of Emily Normandin-Parker, sat down exclusively with "Good Morning America" in an interview aired on Thursday to discuss their daughter's death and the arbitration award.
- Uber has been ordered to pay $40m (£29m) to the family of a 23-year-old woman who was fatally struck on a California highway after the rideshare company's driver allegedly pulled over and ordered her out of the car.