Lyft took legal action against in Los Angeles over declared sexual attack by chauffeur

After 20 ladies collaborated in a sexual-assault claim versus Lyft on Wednesday, yet another such match was submitted Thursday. All the ladies in these legal actions declare they were sexually attacked by Lyft chauffeurs, in scenarios that vary from searching to kidnapping to rape. At least 56 claims including these sorts of claims have actually now been submitted versus the ride-hailing business considering that August.

The most current match, submitted in Los Angeles Superior Court, was caused behalf of a 23-year-old lady called Cheyenne Gutierrez. She can’t drive and strolls with a serious limp due to the fact that of a number of brain surgical treatments she had when she was a kid. She stated that on a Monday night in May she purchased a Lyft house from the grocery store. Once at her home, the chauffeur used to assist with the grocery bags. As she approached her front door, he assaulted her.

“I can’t run,” Gutierrez stated in an October interview. “He probably thought I couldn’t fight back.”

She stated he got her face and attempted to kiss her, she pushed him with her elbow and a battle taken place. Gutierrez stated she handled to knee him in the stomach and chewed out him to go out. Finally, he ran.

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Lyft accused of ignoring sexual assault reports

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Like the other lawsuits filed over the past few months, Gutierrez’s alleges that Lyft hasn’t done enough to protect riders from sexual assault and that perpetrators are drawn to Lyft to prey on vulnerable women. The lawsuits assert that Lyft does substandard background checks on drivers and often doesn’t deactivate drivers from the platform after sexual assault allegations. The lawsuits also allege that Lyft tends to stonewall victims, ignoring, dismissing or downplaying their allegations.

Gutierrez, who’s represented by attorney Mike Bomberger with the firm Estey and Bomberger, said she called Lyft’s hotline the same night as the alleged attack. She said she spoke with a company representative who told her Lyft would get back to her. According to court documents, she received an email from Lyft the next day saying it took “the required course of action with this driver.” 

After that she said she didn’t hear from Lyft again, despite her repeated attempts to get more information from the company about the driver. 

“What has been described is something no one should ever have to endure,” a Lyft spokeswoman said in an email. “Everyone deserves the ability to move about the world safely, yet women still face disproportionate risks. We recognize these risks, which is why we are relentless in our work to build safety into every aspect of our work.”

The spokeswoman said Lyft has launched several new safety features over the last few months, including continuous criminal background monitoring of its drivers and an in-app emergency 911 button. The company also just started a mandatory “community safety education” course for all drivers. 

Gutierrez and Bomberger said Thursday that they still haven’t been able to get the driver’s full name from Lyft. The day after the assault, Gutierrez filed a report with the Los Angeles Police Department. The police determined a battery had occurred, according to court documents, but the department reportedly wasn’t able to get additional information on the driver and his vehicle from Lyft either.

“Gutierrez lives in fear every day that this driver, who knows where she lives, will come back to her home and attack her again,” reads the lawsuit. “As a result of Lyft’s failure to participate in the police investigation, no arrest was able to be made.”