Uber
asked a U.S. court to dismiss a lawsuit filed by an alleged rape victim
in India’s capital, saying the ride-sharing company could not be held
legally responsible for the driver’s acts.
The
passenger, who reported being raped and beaten after hailing a ride
with the Uber driver in Delhi in early December, sued the online car
service in a U.S. federal court in January, claiming the company failed
to maintain basic safety procedures.
In a filing late on Monday, Uber said the court should dismiss the lawsuit as the victim had sued the wrong party.
“While
Plaintiff undoubtedly can state a claim against her alleged assailant,
she cannot state a claim against Uber U.S., which is the wrong party.
Nor does California law govern a dispute involving an alleged wrong
committed by one Indian citizen against another Indian citizen, in
India,” Uber said in the filing.
Uber
said it had no relationship with the alleged assailant who had a
contract with Uber B.V., a Netherlands-based entity with no U.S.
operations and which is not party to the lawsuit.
The
victim’s attorney, Douglas Wigdor, has represented high-profile
plaintiffs, including a hotel maid who accused former International
Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn of sexual assault. Wigdor was
not immediately available for comment outside regular U.S. business
hours.
Charges against a Chicago Uber driver who was accused of raping a female passenger late last year were dropped on Monday.
Uber,
the world’s most valuable venture-backed start-up with a valuation of
$40 billion, has been dogged by controversies surrounding its business
practices and safety policies at a time when it has been growing rapidly
around the world.
Posted by : Gizmeon
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