The parents of 23-year-old Emily Normandin-Parker of Seattle were awarded $40 million after an arbitrator found Uber and driver Vu Tran responsible for her death. In 2023, Emily was riding with a friend after an evening of drinking. When her friend became ill, Tran pulled over on the shoulder of Route 73 in Orange County, and all three got out of the vehicle. Emily was soon struck by a passing car.
Uber argued that it was merely a technology platform connecting passengers with independent drivers. However, the arbitrator, former judge Richard Stone, rejected that argument and ruled that the company was responsible for the driver’s actions. According to Stone, Tran, in an angry state, illegally stopped in a dangerous area between the exit ramp and the roadway, got into an argument with the passengers, and then left two intoxicated women beside a nighttime highway. GPS data later showed that he stopped at the next exit and contacted Uber to seek compensation for cleaning the vehicle’s interior.
The arbitration award provides $20 million to each parent. The family hopes to draw attention to safety and transparency in the transportation industry and plans to use part of the money for scholarships, mentoring, and support for LGBTQ+ organizations through the Emily Foundation they created. Uber expressed disagreement with the decision, saying it continues to improve its technology and safety policies, including guidance for drivers on choosing safe drop-off locations. The case was heard in arbitration because Uber’s terms require disputes to be resolved through a private proceeding, so the decision does not establish legal precedent.
Based on: Seattle parents awarded $40M after Uber found liable for passenger fatally struck on highway