Appeals Court Rules Uber Had Duty to Ensure Safety of Driver Killed by Passengers

The case stems from the death of Cherno Ceesay, who was fatally stabbed by two passengers attempting to steal his car.

An Uber logo is shown on a rideshare vehicle in Los Angeles on Aug. 20, 2020. Mike Blake/Reuters

A federal appeals court ruled on Friday that Uber had a duty to use “reasonable care” when pairing riders with a Washington driver who was killed by two passengers in a failed carjacking attempt.

The case stems from the death of Cherno Ceesay, who was fatally stabbed by Devin Kekoa Wade and Olivia Breanna-Lennon Bebic after accepting their ride request on the Uber app in December 2020.