Uber Ordered To Pay $40M After Driver Abandons Passenger On Freeway

The Ruling and the Cost

Uber were ordered to pay $40 million to the family of a UCLA graduate killed on a California freeway. Judge Richard A. Stone made this ruling after a five-day arbitration hearing held in March. The decision comes after the driver, Vu Tran, left two women on a gore point separating an exit ramp from State Route 73. According to the New York Post, the driver ordered the pair out of the car because one passenger had vomited inside his vehicle. Emily Normandin-Parker was struck by traffic while her friend argued with the driver over a cleaning fee. The judge awarded $20 million to each parent, Carol Normandin and Ken Parker.

Stone criticized Tran for showing “far more worry for his new car than he did for his passengers,” per court documents. The judge noted that Tran illegally stopped in a dangerous area during a “fit of anger.” Lawyers for the family argued that Tran had a history of “reckless” behavior and previous complaints from other riders. One past passenger even claimed Tran was “the least safe” ride they had ever taken. Tran tried to blame the victim for walking into traffic, but the judge rejected that argument entirely.

What the Parents Said

Carol Normandin and Ken Parker spoke about the tragedy shortly after the ruling was announced on Thursday. They told reporters that their daughter followed every safety rule Uber teaches its riders. “Emily did everything Uber tells riders to do—she made the responsible choice not to drive and we trusted Uber to get her home safely,” they said. They added that this trust ultimately cost their daughter her life. The parents accused both the driver and the company of negligence in the case.

Uber attempted to keep the award secret by threatening the family with a $10 million penalty if they spoke publicly. Ken Parker told Good Morning America that the company sent an agreement requiring non-disparagement immediately after the decision. He noted they did not have much time to process the award before Uber tried to silence them. The family’s legal team, Panish, Shea, Ravipudi, LLP, represented them throughout the process. They highlighted that Tran’s actions placed the passengers in unnecessary danger.

Uber’s Response and Next Steps

An Uber spokesperson responded to the ruling by stating their “thoughts continue to be with the Normandin-Parker family.” The company also released a statement saying they respect the process but disagree with the outcome. “While we respect the arbitration process, we believe the arbitrator was wrong in holding Uber legally responsible for the tragic events of that night,” they said. Uber claimed it has continued to strengthen its safety approach over the years. This includes giving drivers more guidance about avoiding drop-offs in unsafe locations.

The incident occurred in the early hours of August 12, 2023, after a night out in Costa Mesa. Normandin-Parker was 23 years old at the time of her death. Her friend, Luna Moore, was also in the car when the driver forced them to exit.

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