Rep. Jenny Willford alleges Lyft failed to ensure driver background checks and prevent profile sharing, leading to her sexual assault by a driver using a false profile.
Colorado state Rep. Jenny Willford , a Northglenn Democrat, filed a lawsuit against Lyft and Shanu Transportation, a local company, alleging she was sexually assaulted by a driver last year. Willford detailed the incident during a press conference at the state Capitol on Tuesday, stating that she was picked up by a man who wasn't the driver listed on her Lyft app.
She claims the man used someone else's profile and that Lyft failed to ensure its drivers undergo proper background checks and prevent profile sharing. The lawsuit accuses Lyft of violating Colorado laws regarding transportation companies and consumer protection, alleging they rolled back plans for annual background checks and didn't adequately address safety concerns. Willford says the driver made inappropriate and sexual comments during the ride, leading her to remove her heels fearing she might need to run. She claims she was then sexually assaulted near her home. She was recently elected to her second term in the House and was joined at the press conference by supporters and attorneys, including former state Democratic Party chair Morgan Carroll.The lawsuit argues that Lyft prioritized profits over passenger safety and that Shanu Transportation, owned by Kholmurod Halimov, also shared in the responsibility for the assault. Halimov, whose name was registered as the Lyft driver assigned to Willford, allegedly allowed another man, also driving a car registered to Shanu Transportation, to pick her up. Willford asserts that this driver would not have passed a background check had Lyft implemented their required annual checks. While the alleged assailant remains unidentified, Willford stated that DNA samples from the case have yet to be tested due to a significant backlog in the state's forensic labs. This backlog, she argues, prevents law enforcement from arresting the perpetrator and brings to light a systemic issue within the criminal justice system. Lyft released a statement acknowledging the seriousness of the allegations and emphasizing their commitment to passenger safety. They stated that their terms of service strictly prohibit profile impersonation and lead to permanent bans from the platform for violators. However, Willford's lawsuit highlights a pattern of Lyft failing to adequately protect its passengers, particularly regarding background checks and driver verification.
LYFT Sexual Assault Lawsuit Colorado Rep. Jenny Willford Background Checks Safety Transportation Network Companies
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