Uber has been ordered to pay $40 million to the family of a UCLA graduate who was killed when her driver abandoned her on a freeway.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Judge Richard A. Stone ruled that driver Vu Tran \u201cneedlessly placed\u201d Emily Normandin-Parker and her friend in danger when he left the pair on State Route 73 in California, according to Panish, Shea, Ravipudi, the law firm representing the family, on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\u201cEmily did everything Uber tells riders to do\u2014she made the responsible choice not to drive and we trusted Uber to get her home safely. That trust cost our daughter her life,\u201d Emily\u2019s parents Carol Normandin and Ken Parker said.<\/p>\n
Emily Normandin-Parker was killed in August 2023 after being struck by traffic following a night out. Panish Shea Ravipudi LLP<\/p>\n
Normandin-Parker, 23, was killed in the early hours of August, 12 2023, following a night out with her pal, Luna Moore, in Costa Mesa.<\/p>\n
The pair turned to the ride-sharing app, but Moore vomited in driver Tran\u2019s car and he ordered the pair to get out.<\/p>\n
Normandin-Parker was struck by traffic after Tran parked at a gore point that separated an exit ramp and the California State Route 73 freeway. <\/p>\n
She was hit by a car while an apoplectic Moore argued with the driver, who wanted a cleaning fee.<\/p>\n
Normandin and Parker accused Tran and Uber of negligence and were awarded $20 million each following a five-day arbitration hearing in March.<\/p>\n
Stone, a retired Los Angeles County judge who presided over the hearing, scolded Tran for showing \u201cfar more worry for his new car than he did for his passengers,\u201d according to court documents seen by The Post.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn a fit of anger, he needlessly placed them (and himself) in danger by illegally stopping in the gore point,\u201d Stone ruled.<\/p>\n
Tran allegedly racked up complaints from previous passengers over his \u201creckless\u201d behavior, lawyers argued. His previous riders claimed Tran \u201ccannot drive\u201d and that he was \u201cthe least safe\u201d ride that one customer had experienced.<\/p>\n
Tran tried to claim he wasn\u2019t at fault because Normandin-Parker walked into the traffic \u2013 an argument the judge rejected.<\/p>\n
Uber chiefs tried to keep the award confidential \u2013 threatening a $10 million penalty against the parents if they spoke out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe didn\u2019t have much time to absorb the award before Uber almost immediately started contending that it could not be made public and then sent an agreement to us requiring non-disparagement, the $10 million penalty for saying anything bad about Uber,\u201d Parker told Good Morning America<\/a> Thursday.\u00a0<\/p>\n Normandin-Parker was told to get out of her Uber driver\u2019s car after her pal vomited. Panish Shea Ravipudi LLP<\/p>\n An Uber spokesperson said its \u201cthoughts continue to be with the Normandin-Parker family.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhile we respect the arbitration process, we believe the arbitrator was wrong in holding Uber legally responsible for the tragic events of that night,\u201d they added.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have continued to strengthen our approach to safety over the years.. Including additional guidance to drivers about avoiding drop-offs in unsafe locations.\u201d<\/p>\n Uber has been ordered to pay $40 million to her family. Getty Images<\/p>\n But Normandin said she \u201cabsolutely\u201d believes the ride-share company put profits over her daughter\u2019s safety.<\/p>\n The family doesn\u2019t believe Uber is showing accountability for what happened.<\/p>\n \u201cThe reason we\u2019re talking is because he [Tran] didn\u2019t take responsibility and neither did Uber,\u201d Parker said. \u201cThey\u2019re still not taking responsibility. We do not want this to ever happen to another mother or father.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tStart your day with all you need to know\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMorning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n Tributes were paid to Laguna Beach native Normandin-Parker, who graduated from the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television with a major in theater, following her death.<\/p>\n