American Tabatha Means filed a lawsuit against VTC company Lyft in a California court on January 9, accusing a driver of raping her in 2019, CNN reports. After this rape, the girl became pregnant and gave birth to a child after 33 weeks of pregnancy. She is today asking US justice to prosecute the company that was the driver of the vehicle.
The facts took place on April 28, 2019, details of the complaint filed in court by the plaintiff’s lawyers. Tabatha Means was drunk and requested a VTC ride home via the Lyft app. The driver then picked her up from the requested spot and placed her on the passenger seat. “During the race, it was clear that the plaintiff was intoxicated, her speech was slurred,” the complaint states.
Rape at victim’s home
According to Tabatha Means, the man then began complimenting her on her looks, before telling her that she shouldn’t be out so late, or that he didn’t understand that such a sexy woman was single. Upon reaching their destination, the Lyft driver parked and attempted to kiss the plaintiff, before drunkenly offering her a ride home. Despite her refusal, the man followed her and then assaulted her at her home.
She claims he told her at that moment: “Everything will be fine, it will be over before you know it.” ยป The driver then pushed her on the bed and forced her to fellatio before raping her again. The victim repeatedly denied it and cried throughout the incident, the complaint shows. He then allegedly told her he wanted to “start over” and forced her to have another sexual encounter under duress.
At first, Tabatha Means did not file a complaint and did not speak about the rape for fear of not being believed. A month after the incident she discovered her pregnancy and disclosed the attack to her sister. She had to carry a difficult pregnancy to term, which resulted in the birth of a boy. She obtained a DNA test from Florida Social Services in charge of alimony. It was confirmed by 99.99% that the Lyft driver was the father of the child.
The company has cleared itself of the allegations
Lyft responded to CNN about the allegations, indicating that the ride took place “outside” of the driver’s pick-up hours. The company also claimed that it came to know about the fact only after a year. She also adds that there will be “several hours” between the race and the alleged facts.
The American VTC company also stressed that the safety of its customers is “fundamental” and that “the reported behavior has no place in our society”. “Lyft has worked to design policies and features that protect both drivers and passengers, and we’re always working to make Lyft a safer platform,” the company concluded in a statement.
However, it was singled out in 2021 after it was revealed that “more than 4,000 sexual assaults” had been reported on its application between 2017 and 2019.
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