Uber settles lawsuit case with Indian rape victim

Ride-hailing behemoth Uber has settled a lawsuit with a woman, who was raped by her Uber driver in India in 2014.

The victim had sued the company, its former CEO Travis Kalanick and former executives Eric Alexander and Emil Michael after they reportedly met Delhi Police and accessed her medical files after the rape. Both of them were fired following the incident.

According to recode reports, both the parties agreed and entered mediation in the hope of settling the lawsuit in September. Next month, the victim dropped her claims against Michael.

She sought damages for intrusion into private affairs, public disclosure of private facts, and defamation.

Earlier, she struck a settlement with the company over failing to maintain basic safety measures in 2015. The driver was sentenced life imprisonment.

“Uber executives duplicitously and publicly decried the rape, expressing sympathy for Plaintiff, and shock and regret at the violent attack, while privately speculating, as outlandish as it is, that she had colluded with a rival company to harm Uber’s business,” the suit reads.

Soon after Uber issued a statement, "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.”

Uber has been under reportedly under scanner since February when former engineer Susan Fowler penned down a scathing blog post about sexual harassment and sexism at the company.

Uber recent cases

Last fortnight, In another startling case involving Uber came to light, an investor in it Shervin Pishevar, who is considered to be close to Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick, is alleged to have sexually assaulted or harassed five women.

The women accused Pishevar of exploiting a professional connection. They alleged him of using the prospect of a job, mentorship or investment to make an unwanted sexual advance. Women requested not to be identified citing fear of lawsuits and career in security.

In August, Uber appointed a new chief executive officer Dara Khosrowshahi, to take charge and bail the ride-hailing firm out of controversies.