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Uber’s current and former CEO will be compelled to testify under oath in a massive litigation involving allegations of sexual assault by the company’s drivers. A federal judge in San Francisco ordered that current CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, Uber co-founder and former CEO Travis Kalanick, and several other senior leaders may not evade depositions, according to legal reporter Isaiah Poritz of Bloomberg News.
Magistrate Judge Lisa J. Cisneros rejected Uber’s attempt to shield its top brass from being deposed. Cisneros ruled that requiring testimony from high-ranking decision-makers is appropriate given the scope and seriousness of the litigation.
Khosrowshahi, who took over as CEO in 2017 following a series of scandals under Kalanick’s leadership, must participate in a deposition lasting up to four hours. Kalanick and former CEO Ryan Graves will each sit for depositions capped at three hours. Four other executives—including Chief Marketing Officer Jill Hazelbaker and Chief Product Officer Sachin Kansal—will sit for a combined 18 hours of testimony.
The depositions come as Uber faces nearly 2,000 lawsuits filed by passengers nationwide who allege the rideshare giant failed to screen drivers properly or intervene after serious misconduct. Many of the plaintiffs accuse Uber of promoting a false image of safety while allowing systemic failures in rider protection.
These lawsuits have been consolidated into a multidistrict litigation proceeding in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. While some claims have been dismissed, the vast majority remain active.
Uber recently attempted to sever the consolidated lawsuits by pointing to riders’ acceptance of its app’s terms of service. However, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit denied that request, allowing the consolidated litigation to move forward.
In her ruling, Judge Cisneros dismissed Uber’s reliance on the “apex doctrine”—a legal argument used by corporations to shield high-level executives from depositions unless other avenues have been exhausted. Citing the nature of the allegations and evidence already presented by plaintiffs, she determined that executives likely played a direct role in shaping the company’s safety policies and public messaging.
“Plaintiffs allege, and have offered at least some evidence to support, that relevant decisions regarding Uber’s safety policies and representations to the public were made at a very high level,” Cisneros wrote.
Acknowledging concerns that corporate executives may try to avoid meaningful questioning by running out the clock, the judge warned against any stalling tactics. “Any such efforts to stall or stonewall may result in a witness being recalled for a further full day’s deposition,” she stated.
Uber declined to comment in response to the ruling.
If you or someone you love was sexually assaulted as a result of an Uber experience, you are not alone—and you may have legal options. SurvivorsRights.com is here to help connect you with experienced attorneys specializing in rideshare assault cases. Visit our Uber sexual assault lawsuit page to share your story confidentially and take the first step toward justice.
