Uber Ordered to Pay $40 Million After Driver Leaves Woman on Freeway

Arbitration Details and the Fatal Freeway Drop-Off

The incident began when Normandin-Parker was taking an Uber home with her friend Luna Moore after a night out in 2022, according to the arbitration award cited by ABC News and Yahoo News. Moore became sick during the ride, prompting the driver, Vu Tran, to pull over on State Route 73 in Orange County. Tran stopped at a gore point—the triangular area by an off-ramp—which retired Judge Richard A. Stone described in his arbitration award as an unsafe and illegal area.

According to the arbitration findings reported by ABC News and Yahoo News, Tran could have instead exited at nearby MacArthur Boulevard to stop in a safe location. Stone wrote that Tran knew both passengers were intoxicated and had argued with Moore over a cleaning fee before ordering them out of the car. Normandin told ABC News and Yahoo News, All I can think that Emily was doing — her friend, the driver arguing — was to get help. They argue, Emily gets hit while they’re arguing.

Normandin-Parker subsequently entered the freeway and was struck by a vehicle. GPS data examined during the arbitration showed that Tran drove near the victim’s body before taking the next exit and calling Uber to request a cleaning fee, according to ABC News and Yahoo News. Stone characterized Tran’s testimony as largely incredible and unbelievable, noting that the driver showed far more worry for his new car than he did for his passengers.

Legal Liability, Proposition 22, and Prior Driver Complaints

Following a five-day arbitration proceeding, Stone awarded $20 million each to Normandin and Parker, holding Uber and Tran jointly and severally liable, while Moore was awarded $300,000, according to ABC News and Yahoo News. The arbitrator did not award punitive damages. Stone found Uber vicariously liable for Tran’s negligence as a common carrier, rejecting the company’s defense that it is merely a technology company connecting riders with drivers.

As reported by ABC News and Yahoo News, the arbitrator additionally dismissed Uber’s assertion that Proposition 22—a 2020 California voter-approved ballot measure allowing app-based transport providers to treat drivers as independent contractors rather than staff—protected the company against responsibility for Tran’s actions. Attorneys representing the parents presented evidence that Uber had received previous complaints regarding Tran’s driving, including reports of erratic behavior, driving the wrong way on a one-way street, and nearly hitting pedestrians.

The Normandin-Parker family remains in our thoughts, as losing a child is a heartbreak no family should ever endure.

Uber spokesperson via ABC News and Yahoo News

While we respect the arbitration process, we believe the arbitrator was wrong in holding Uber legally responsible for the tragic events of that night, the Uber spokesperson noted in remarks shared with ABC News and Yahoo News. The company also stated that it has continued to strengthen its safety approach over the years, which includes providing drivers with additional guidance on avoiding drop-offs in unsafe locations.