CHICAGO — A passenger is suing ride-sharing company Lyft and a driver, citing alleged assault and negligence.
Joseph Damukaitis filed a complaint June 14 in Cook County Circuit Court, alleging the defendants failed to hire safe drivers without propensities for violence or criminal histories.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff was a passenger in a Lyft vehicle on Dec. 17, 2016, when he was allegedly struck in the face and his cell phone was taken after he asked Rucker to slow down while driving on private property.
Damukaitis claims that, during the investigation of the incident, Chicago Police officers found the driver has a criminal record.
The plaintiff alleges that Lyft failed to employ a sufficient policy requiring that prospective and current Lyft drivers do not have a violent or criminal history.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks a judgment greater than $50,000. He is represented by Bryan Greening of LegalRideshare LLC in Chicago.
Circuit Court of Cook County case number 18-L-006153