Lyft Assault

The JPML established MDL 3171 on February 5, 2026, consolidating federal Lyft passenger sexual assault litigation before Judge Rita F. Lin in the Northern District of California. The MDL currently comprises at least 17 cases transferred from 10 district courts, with pretrial coordination underway and bellwether trials anticipated for late 2026 or early 2027. Plaintiffs allege Lyft failed to implement adequate safety measures despite knowledge of assault risks dating to 2015, asserting claims for negligence, negligent hiring/retention/supervision, common carrier negligence, and product liability design defect.

MDL 3171 established February 5, 2026, consolidating federal Lyft passenger sexual assault litigation before Judge Rita F. Lin in the Northern District of California, San Francisco Division. Pretrial coordination underway; bellwether trials anticipated late 2026 or early 2027. Lyft opposed consolidation citing existing California state court JCCP No. 5061, but JPML rejected argument noting it cannot compel federal plaintiffs into state court.

Lyft disclosed 6,809 sexual assault reports 2017-2022; no data released 2012-2017 or post-2022. Company relies on name-based background checks via Checkr, Inc. — no fingerprinting except NYC. Lyft aggressively contests untimeliness in short-SOL jurisdictions; see March 2024 N.D. Cal. motion.

• California (JCCP No. 5061)

  1,971 cases consolidated in San Francisco County Superior Court Judicial Council Coordination Proceedings No. 5061; 1,569 involve out-of-state incidents. Substantial discovery completed over approximately six years.

• Northern District of California (MDL 3171)

  Federal MDL 3171 now accepting filings; JPML heard consolidation motion January 2026. Georgia plaintiff A.T. joined January 2026 after assault September 8, 2025. Seventeen federal cases pending across ten districts as of October 2025 motion.

• Dallas, Texas

  Driver Hamidreza Farahbakhshsadeh assaulted passenger; had prior sexual misconduct complaints but remained active on platform until arrest. Convicted January 2025, sentenced to 12 years.

• San Antonio, Texas

  March 25, 2023 incident involving driver Rafael C.; case CGC-25-623042, Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, Judge Austin Lam presiding.

• Florida

  Plaintiff Tabatha Means, Florida resident, repeatedly raped by Lyft driver paired through app; federal complaint filed N.D. Cal. January 9, 2024, pending San Francisco Division.

• Somerville, Massachusetts

  August 2025 incident: driver Luis Carlos Ramos Teixeira charged with allegedly sexually assaulting female passenger.

• New York

  Sole jurisdiction mandating fingerprint-based background checks for Lyft drivers. September 2019 lawsuit alleged kidnapping at gunpoint by driver with two accomplices. January 2023: driver Qandagha Raufi, 32, charged with first-degree sexual abuse, third-degree kidnapping, misdemeanor sexual misconduct for alleged assault of passenger.

• Pennsylvania

  Plaintiff Jane Doe A.F. assaulted August 12, 2021 in Philadelphia by driver Ntiamoah Brown; case 2:23-cv-03990, E.D. Pa., Judge Marston. Removed from state court October 2023.

• Kansas

  Plaintiff Jane Doe assaulted March 5, 2022 in Lawrence by fraudulent driver using 'Terri Parham' account (actually Michalia Williams, convicted felon with mismatched photo); case Doe v. Lyft, Inc., 756 F.Supp.3d 1110 (D. Kan. 2024), Judge John W. Broomes. Williams pled guilty to felony theft; co-defendant Joshua Williams pled guilty to felony aggravated battery, sentenced 32 months.

MDL 3171 (Lyft Sexual Assault) consolidated February 5, 2026, per source [4], before N.D. Cal. Choice-of-law conflicts likely on SOL; forum defendant Lyft Inc. headquartered in CA. Federal courts will apply forum state's borrowing statutes where plaintiff resides in short-SOL jurisdiction. Screen for: (1) assault date, (2) plaintiff's residence, (3) ride location, (4) any minority tolling. Lyft aggressively contesting untimeliness — see March 2024 N.D. Cal. motion per Law360 source [5]. Exclude Uber/MDL 3084 materials; exclude derivative securities case No. 20-09257.