News & Press

Local Atlanta, GA, news station Alive 11 reports that a rideshare company catered exclusively for women is launching in Atlanta. Called HERide, the company was founded by Jillian Anderson, a former Lyft driver of four years. “The main thing that makes us different is we are for women by women,” founder Anderson said. “All of

An article published by Associated Press News reports that on Tuesday December 21, Las Vegas area Uber driver, Dawed Mekonene, was arrested and chared with sexually motivated kidnapping, battery by strangulation with intent to commit sexual assault, and two counts of sexual assault. Mekonene is accused of raping a female passenger who police said

A New York State Police press release published by The Harlem Valley News reports that on December 3, 2021, the New York State Police arrested Manuel A. Nunez, age 27, of Mount Vernon, NY, for Sexual Abuse in the 1st degree, a class D felony, Unlawful Imprisonment in the 1st degree, a class E

According to a recent report by KGW News in Portland, Oregon, Omar Al Naser, was arrested by Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) deputies at his home in Beaverton on Tuesday November 23rd, 2021. The Lyft driver is accused of sexually assaulting a woman, and investigators believe there may be more victims of the

“Ride-hailing company refuses to accept responsibility for drivers’ criminal behavior” – attorney Steve Estey Lyft’s first ever safety report covers 2017-2019, when 4,158 sexual assault incidents were reported. The figure includes 360 rapes. In addition, there were 10 fatal physical assaults reported. Despite Lyft’s so-called commitment to safety, the company continues to

WKYT in Lexington reports that a Louisville, KY, Uber driver, Raudel Veloz Cruz, has been arrested and charged with unlawful imprisonment and sexual abuse. According to the arrest report, around 9 p.m. on Sunday, October 17th, 2021, Veloz Cruz picked up a woman who had requested an Uber ride. Once they arrived at the

The team at Estey & Bomberger have been following the story of Jorge Tapiacastro, who was convicted in early August, 2021, of a string of felonies including rape, sexual battery and false imprisonment raping a passenger while driving for Lyft. The OC Register reports that on Friday, October 1st, Tapiacastro was sentenced to

Yahoo! News recently published an AFP article about the California voter-approved referendum that lets many “gig workers” be treated as independent contractors was ruled unconstitutional on Friday, August 21st, 2021, setting up more legal fights over the controversial measure. Known as Proposition 22, the labor legislation was heavily backed by Uber, Lyft and

An article published by the Omaha World-Herald reveals that Douglas County District Judge Timothy Burns sentenced Komlanvi Avitso, a Lyft driver convicted of raping an intoxicated woman in his car, to 10 to 12 years in prison. We reported on Avitso’s conviction back in just of 2021. Under Nebraska state law, which cuts most

An article published by Reuters reports that Uber Technologies Inc. has reached a preliminary agreement with a California regulator for sharing data on sexual assault and harassment claims on its platform while protecting victims’ privacy and avoiding a $59 million fine. Under the proposal outlined in a regulatory filing with the California