Office
1700 Montgomery Street,
Suite 250
San Francisco,CA 94111
Suite 250
San Francisco,CA 94111
Contact
Phone: (415) 426-3000
Fax: (415) 426-3001
Fax: (415) 426-3001
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June 1, 2018: Uber failed to institute thorough background checks and hired thousands of convicts as drivers. The company is under fire for failing to institute full background checks, misleading statements about the strength of background checks, and for failing to protect passengers from sexual assault. Uber has previously settled with District Attorneys from Los Angeles and San Francisco for misleading safety statements, and is being sued for sharing a rape survivors medical records among top executives.
CNN investigated efforts by Uber and Lyft to lobby for softer standards on background checks. CNN reports:
Uber has played a key role in shaping the language of many state laws governing rideshare companies, giving the company authority to conduct its own background checks in most states with little or no oversight, unlike many taxi operations.
The result of Uber’s lobbying was 3 out of 4 states with screening laws used final language similar to or directly copying Uber’s recommended language, showing Uber was very successful in preventing stricter screening for would be rideshare drivers. CNN found legislative sources in 25 states that confirm Uber had a direct hand in writing rideshare background check laws. Wyoming state representative Dan Zwonitzer said Uber “drew a line in the sand” on background checks.
Instead of state run background checks that include all criminal convictions and frequently include fingerprint checks, Uber relies on a 3rd party private company (Checkr). The process does not involve fingerprinting and cannot always access state criminal history due to laws limiting what non-government agencies can receive. The result is an incomplete background search.
As a result of lax background checks, over 100 Uber and Lyft drivers have been accused of abusing or assaulting passengers, some of these cases have already resulted in convictions. The latest CNN report lists these drivers were hired:
If you are the survivor of an assault or harassment during a rideshare, contact the Uber assault lawyers at Levin Simes. You can reach us to schedule a free private consultation at (415) 426-3000, info@levinsimes.com, or through our website.