Uber ordered to pay $40 million for fatal California freeway incident

Uber vicarious liability Proposition 22 arbitration ruling wrongful death

Uber has been ordered to pay $40 million to the parents of Emily Normandin-Parker, a 23-year-old UCLA graduate who was killed on a California freeway in August 2023. The decision follows a five-day arbitration process led by retired judge Richard A. Stone.

The incident occurred when an Uber driver, Vu Tran, stopped his vehicle at an illegal gore point on State Route 73 after a passenger became ill and vomited in the car. According to the ruling, Tran ejected the passengers—Normandin-Parker and her friend Luna Moore—on the highway and focused on demanding a cleaning fee rather than providing assistance. While the passengers were arguing with Tran, Normandin-Parker wandered into traffic and was struck by another vehicle.

Uber attempted to argue that it was not liable for the driver's actions because Tran was classified as an independent contractor under California's Proposition 22. However, the arbitrator rejected this defense, stating that Proposition 22 does not immunize the company from vicarious liability for the wrongdoing of its drivers. The ruling noted that Tran showed more concern for his vehicle's cleanliness than for the safety of his passengers.

Entities

California · Emily Normandin-Parker · Richard A. Stone · Uber · Vu Tran

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[DISPUTED] Uber was ordered to pay $40 million to the parents of Emily Normandin-Parker. dete.gr · pulptastic.com · e-thessalia.gr · kiowacountypress.net · www.waarmaarraar.nl · +8 more
[● 3 SOURCES] The arbitrator found that driver Vu Tran acted with negligence and anger by stopping in an illegal gore point on a freeway. pulptastic.com · kiowacountypress.net · www.deia.eus
[● 2 SOURCES] GPS data showed the driver drove near the victim's body before exiting the freeway. www.deia.eus · laopinion.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Uber argued it was not liable because the driver was an independent contractor under Proposition 22. kiowacountypress.net · www.deia.eus · www.tanea.gr
[DISPUTED] The arbitration award of $40 million is to be split between the victim's parents and her husband. eldia.com.do
[● 13 SOURCES] The driver, Vu Tran, demanded a cleaning fee from the passengers after one became ill in the vehicle. dete.gr · pulptastic.com · e-thessalia.gr · kiowacountypress.net · www.waarmaarraar.nl · +8 more
[○ 1 SOURCE] Retired judge Richard A. Stone ruled that California's Proposition 22 does not exempt Uber from vicarious liability for driver actions. kiowacountypress.net
[● 2 SOURCES] Emily Normandin-Parker was 23 years old and a graduate of UCLA when she was killed in August 2023. pulptastic.com · eldia.com.do