Uber has been ordered to pay $40 million to the family of a 23-year-old woman killed on a California highway. Emily Normandin-Parker had booked an Uber with a friend after a night out on August 12, 2023. When her friend vomited in the car, driver Vu Tran allegedly pulled over on State Route 73 in Orange County and forced both women out on the freeway side.
Normandin-Parker was struck by another vehicle and killed as the Uber drove away. Her parents Carol Normandin and Ken Parker said she had made the responsible choice not to drive while intoxicated and trusted Uber to get her home safely. A retired judge ordered Uber to pay $20 million each to the parents after a five-day arbitration. Uber had argued the driver was an independent contractor and said it disagreed with the verdict.
The judge noted the driver showed “far more worry for his new car than he did for his passengers” and could have dropped them at a safe exit.
