Uber faces legal action in US court over India rape allegations
A woman allegedly raped by an Uber driver in India plans to take legal action against the taxi aggregator in a US court claiming negligence.
The action will centre on Uber’s lax background checks on drivers and the woman has secured the services of well-known New York lawyer Douglas Wigdor.
Wigdor previously represented hotel maid Nafissatou Diallo, who gained a million dollar settlement from former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn over an alleged sexual assault.
Wigdor has asked for US jurisdiction in the case as Uber’s company policy pertaining to driver conduct was made in the US.
"I can confirm that I have been retained by the young lady who was raped by an Uber driver in Delhi, India, last December. We will use all of our resources to vindicate my client’s rights, hold those responsible for their actions and ensure that this doesn’t happen again," Wigdor said.
The civil lawsuit attempt comes as former Uber driver Shiv Kumar Yadav made his first court appearance in India accused of rape, criminal intimidation and kidnapping.
Delhi authorities initially banned Uber after a public outcry and Uber CEO Travis Kalanick promised to beef up background checks for all drivers by ‘going above and beyond required government verification’.
"We are engaging local and global experts to evaluate the most effective background screening solution across India; pilot programs are already running in select cities, including Delhi," Uber said in a statement.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt