Latest News

Lyft authorities settle suit over sexual assaults by motorists

Lyft will implement several safety and governance reforms to settle a shareholder lawsuit accusing the ridesharing company's officers and directors of not doing enough to stop motorists from sexually and physically assaulting guests.

A preliminary settlement was filed on Tuesday night in the Oakland, California, federal court, and needs a judge's. approval.

Lyft consented to increase guest awareness of the Alert 911. Silently function on its app for reporting misbehavior, and make. it easier to report issues 24/7 to a live human. It also stated. it has actually also enhanced training and its code of organization conduct. and ethics.

The modifications would last at least 3 years. Officers and. directors would pay no money to the business, and their insurance companies. would pay $700,000 to cover the plaintiffs' legal fees.

Investors claimed that Lyft's credibility struggled with. the company's insufficient training and background checks for. chauffeurs, consisting of those with histories of sexual misconduct.

They likewise said Lyft concealed the shortages before its. March 2019 initial public offering, and also concealed defects. in its electronic bikes that caused various injuries.

Lyft authorities denied misbehavior in consenting to settle.

In a statement, the San Francisco-based business said it. settled exclusively to avoid the disruption and expense of litigation.

Lyft has stated the lawsuit was the last investor case. arising from the IPO. Through Tuesday, Lyft's share cost had. fallen 83% considering that the offering.

Many ride-share guests have actually also implicated Uber. drivers of sexual assault.

More than 300 suits versus Uber declaring such conduct. have actually been combined into a federal class action pending in San. Francisco. The number of plaintiffs could reach the thousands.

The case is In re Lyft Inc Derivative Litigation, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California No. 20-09257.

(source: Reuters)