Uber Is Sued by Woman Who Was Raped by One of Its Drivers in India

SAN FRANCISCO — A woman who was raped by her Uber driver in India filed a lawsuit against the ride-hailing company and three current and former executives, after revelations that they had obtained and mishandled her medical records.

The woman, identified only as Jane Doe, a resident of Texas, is suing Uber and its chief executive, Travis Kalanick, as well as two former senior executives, Emil Michael and Eric Alexander, for intrusion into private affairs, public disclosure of private facts and defamation. She said in her suit that the three executives believed her rape, in 2014, may have been part of a conspiracy hatched by a competing ride-hailing company or a taxi company.

“Rape denial is just another form of the toxic gender discrimination that is endemic at Uber and ingrained in its culture,” said Douglas Wigdor, the lawyer representing Ms. Doe, who filed the suit in Federal District Court for the Northern District of California.

The lawsuit is the latest blow for Uber, which has endured a string of scandals in the last few months. In February, a former employee detailed in a public blog post a history of what she said was sexual harassment and unresponsive management, setting off a wide-ranging investigation that unearthed embarrassing corporate misbehavior at the company.

Uber, valued by investors at nearly $70 billion, has tried to overhaul its raucous image by firing top managers. On Tuesday, the company unveiled recommendations from a law firm that investigated Uber’s culture; Uber’s board said it would follow the recommendations to revamp its workplace. Mr. Kalanick is also taking an indefinite leave of absence from running the company.

“Hopefully, this lawsuit coupled with the changes recommended by the independent counsel will create real change and reform at Uber and elsewhere,” Mr. Wigdor said.

An Uber spokesman said on Thursday: “No one should have to go through a horrific experience like this, and we’re truly sorry that she’s had to relive it over the last few weeks.”

Read more from source: NYTIMES.COM