WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – A woman is seeking $10 million in damages from ride-hailing company Uber after she allegedly was sexually assaulted by a driver.
Jane Doe filed a complaint on March 29 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against Uber Technologies Inc., Raiser LLC and Raiser DC LLC and Raul E. Rodriguez Vasquez alleging intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence and other counts.
The plaintiff alleges on April 1, 2018, she requested a ride through Uber and Vasquez accepted the ride. The plaintiff alleges Vasquez asked her inappropriate questions during the ride and sexually harassed her.
The suit states Vasquez drove down a secluded street where he assaulted her, forced her to watch him masturbate, touched her inappropriately and forced her to perform oral sex on him. The plaintiff alleges she sought medical treatment after the incident and reported it to the police. The suit states Vasquez was charged with two counts of sexual abuse in July 2018 and pleaded guilty to one count of sexual abuse in September 2018.
The plaintiff is seeking judgment exceeding $10 million, compensatory and punitive damages, attorneys' fees and costs of the case and other relief deemed fit. The plaintiff is represented by Kasey K. Murray of Koonz, McKenney, Johnson, Depaolis & Lightfoot LLP in Washington, D.C.
The defendant is accused of sexual harassment and assault as well as negligence.
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia case number 1:19-CV-00903