Uber has been ordered to pay $40 million to the family of a 23-year-old passenger who was struck and killed on a California highway after an Uber driver allegedly abandoned her by the roadside.
Emily Normandin-Parker had requested an Uber home with a friend on August 12, 2023. According to court documents, the friend became ill and vomited inside the vehicle during the trip. Normandin-Parker’s parents said the driver, Vu Tran, stopped on the highway and forced both women out of the car. The women were intoxicated, they said. Normandin-Parker was later hit by another vehicle and died.
“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,” her parents said in a statement. “That trust cost our daughter her life.”
The award was issued by retired judge Richard Stone after a five-day arbitration, according to the law firm representing the family.
The family’s attorneys alleged that Tran failed to call emergency services or seek help after leaving them on the highway. Instead, they said, he contacted Uber to request that Normandin-Parker be charged a cleaning fee for the mess in the vehicle.
Stone said Tran appeared more concerned about protecting his car than the safety of his passengers. The retired judge also said the driver could have taken an exit and dropped the women off in a safer location.
Uber’s Argument
Uber argued that Tran was an independent contractor and that the company should not be held liable for his conduct. The company said it believed the arbitrator had made an error in finding Uber legally responsible for the death.
“We have continued to strengthen our approach to safety over the years,” Uber said, citing new technology, policies and safeguards. The company also pointed to additional guidance for drivers on avoiding dangerous drop-off locations.
Normandin-Parker had graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles. Her attorneys said Uber initially offered the family $10 million to resolve the case, provided the parents agreed not to speak publicly about the incident. They declined the offer.
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