The parents of a 23-year-old woman who was fatally struck after her Uber driver pulled over along a southern California highway were awarded $40 million after an arbitrator found both Uber and the driver liable for her death.<\/p>\n
\n
Carol Normandin and Ken Parker said Friday that they hope the amount will put a spotlight on the 2023 death of their daughter, Emily Normandin-Parker and to use the money to advocate for strengthening safety standards and transparency in the ride-hailing industry.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to do good with it,\u201d Parker said of the money, but \u201cI never wanted it. No parent would ever want it. The best thing about it is that it\u2019s bringing attention to the issue that sorely needs attention.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the night she was killed, Normandin-Parker had ordered the Uber for her and her friend to get home after spending a night out drinking alcohol. When the friend got sick and vomited, driver Vu Tran pulled over on the side of Route 73 in Orange County and all three got out of the car before Normandin-Parker was hit by traffic.<\/p>\n
During arbitration, Uber had argued that it\u2019s a technology platform connecting riders with \u201cindependent third-party drivers,\u201d according to the independent arbitrator, Richard Stone. But Stone, a retired judge, wrote that he rejected that argument and found Uber was \u201cvicariously liable\u201d for the driver\u2019s negligence.<\/p>\n
Uber disagreed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile we respect the arbitration process, we believe the arbitrator was wrong in holding Uber legally responsible for the tragic events of that night,\u201d the company said in a statement, adding that they have continued to \u201cstrengthen our approach to safety over the years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Attorneys who represented Tran at the arbitration hearing did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.<\/p>\n
The arbitration document, dated in July, was released by Normandin and Parker\u2019s attorneys this week. Stone decided Uber and Tran were jointly responsible for $20 million to each parent.<\/p>\n
There are holes in what ultimately happened \u201cin those crucial moments,\u201d the arbitrator wrote, as \u201cno one presented entirely credible testimony.\u201d But the evidence shows Tran pulled into a gore point \u2014 the area between a ramp and the road \u2014 and began to argue with Normandin-Parker\u2019s friend outside of the car, according to Stone.<\/p>\n
Neither saw traffic hit Normandin-Parker.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn a fit of anger, he needlessly placed them (and himself) in danger by illegally stopping in the gore point when he could have easily \u2026 stopped in a safe place instead alongside an active freeway at night,\u201d Stone wrote. \u201cTran then abandoned those two young women, whom he knew to be intoxicated and whom he had kicked out of his car in his anger over what had transpired, in that spot.\u201d<\/p>\n
After Tran left the scene, GPS data shows he pulled over at the next exit and called Uber about securing a cleaning fee, Stone said.<\/p>\n
California law allows Uber and other ride-sharing platforms to treat their drivers as independent contractors, but Stone rejected the idea that that absolves Uber of liability. Uber should \u201clearn from this tragic incident\u201d and change its approach to passenger safety, Stone wrote.<\/p>\n
\u201cShould it fail to do so, it no doubt engages in that approach at its own substantial risk,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The case went through arbitration because Uber\u2019s terms of service, which riders agree to when they sign up, require claims or disputes be resolved with the private resolution process. The arbitrator\u2019s decision, unlike a court ruling, does not establish legal precedent.<\/p>\n
Uber said in its statement that it continues to invest in safety with \u201cnew technology, policies and safeguards\u201d and guidance to drivers on avoiding unsafe drop-off locations and said its work on safety \u201cis never finished.\u201d<\/p>\n
Normandin and Parker remembered their daughter for her creativity, sense of humor and kindness. She was a writer, working on being a playwright, an older sister and an advocate for others. They established the Emily Normandin-Parker Foundation and said they will also be using the money to fund scholarship and mentorship opportunities and to support LGBTQ+ organizations.<\/p>\n
They criticized Uber\u2019s response as a reflection of the company\u2019s \u201cpathological inability to admit responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re focused on their bottom line, to the detriment of safety,\u201d Parker said. \u201cThey don\u2019t care about safety. They care about money.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
#Arbitrator #Uber #vicariously #liable #drivers #negligence #fatal #accident<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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<\/p>\n