Lyft Passenger Assault Lawsuit Alleges Man Was Pursued After Refusing Off-Platform Cash Payment

Lawsuit alleges Lyft driver pursued passenger at high speeds and repeatedly attempted to strike his vehicle, resulting in physical injuries and severe emotional distress.

A California man has filed a lawsuit alleging a Lyft driver demanded an $80 cash payment outside the rideshare app, and became aggressive when the passenger refused, creating a threatening situation that the plaintiff says could have been prevented through better driver screening and oversight.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by Amir Fatigh in California Superior Court on August 10, naming Lyft Inc. and the driver, Mr. Oleksii, as defendants. Fatigh alleges Lyft failed to adequately screen, supervise and monitor the driver before allowing him to transport passengers through the platform.

The lawsuit adds to broader concerns raised in other claims over whether Lyft has implemented sufficient safeguards to protect riders from dangerous or abusive conduct by drivers.

Those concerns have been central to a mounting number of Lyft sexual assault lawsuits being filed, where plaintiffs allege the company prioritized rapid expansion over passenger safety and failed to adopt protections that could have reduced the risk of sexual harassment, unwanted touching, assault, kidnapping and rape.

Lyft Passenger Assault Allegations

According to the complaint, Fatigh requested a Lyft ride on August 23, 2024, which Oleksii accepted. During the trip, Fatigh claims he handed Oleksii his cellphone to change the destination through the Lyft app. Instead, Oleksii allegedly returned the phone and demanded $80 in cash.

Fatigh refused, explaining that the trip had been arranged through Lyft and he intended to pay through the app. Oleksii then allegedly became “aggressive, hostile, intimidating, and harassing,” causing Fatigh to fear for his safety.

Oleksii eventually drove Fatigh to the Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites, where the passenger exited the Lyft vehicle and believed the confrontation was over.

However, after Fatigh entered his own vehicle and drove away, the complaint says Oleksii pursued him at high speeds and repeatedly attempted to strike his vehicle. Fatigh claims he was forced to take evasive action to avoid a crash, fearing he could suffer serious injury or death.

“The pursuit constituted a dangerous and terrifying escalation of the original confrontation over the $80.00 cash demand.”

— Amir Fatigh v. Lyft Inc. et al.

Fatigh claims the incident left him with physical injuries, emotional trauma, mental anguish, humiliation and loss of enjoyment of life. He also alleges he required medical treatment and may suffer permanent injuries requiring additional care.

The complaint indicates Lyft may possess electronic evidence related to the incident, including GPS data showing the vehicle’s movements, trip information, communications, driver records and safety reports.

Fatigh maintains that Lyft should be held responsible for Oleksii’s alleged misconduct, arguing the confrontation began while Oleksii was actively providing a Lyft ride and arose from the passenger-driver relationship created through the platform.

The lawsuit raises allegations of negligence, assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress, civil stalking, negligent hiring and supervision, vicarious liability and breach of contract. Fatigh seeks general and punitive damages, as well as compensation for medical expenses, lost future earnings and property damage.

Lyft Sexual Assault Lawsuits

In addition to Fatigh’s complaint, more than 70 Lyft sexual assault lawsuits have been consolidated in the Northern District of California before U.S. District Judge Rita F. Lin as part of coordinated pretrial proceedings. The court is expected to establish a “bellwether” process involving a group of representative cases prepared for early trial dates.

A separate federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) involving Uber sexual assault lawsuits is pending before another judge in the Northern District of California. Nearly 4,400 claims are currently centralized in that proceeding, which has already begun a series of bellwether trials.

The first Uber bellwether trial concluded earlier this year with an $8.5 million verdict for Jaylynn Dean, who said an Uber driver sexually assaulted her in 2023. Jurors rejected allegations that Uber negligently designed or implemented its safety features, but determined the company was legally responsible because the driver was acting within the scope of his relationship with Uber.

Aside from federal litigation, a California state court case decided in September 2025 determined Uber failed to adequately protect passengers from sexual assault. However, the jury did not hold the company liable for the assault or award damages.

Although bellwether outcomes are not binding on other claims, they can provide both sides with insight into how juries may evaluate recurring evidence and arguments. If the Uber and Lyft litigations are not resolved through settlements or other means, individual cases could eventually be returned to the federal courts where they originated for separate trials.

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