Sexual Assault Settlement

In Whipple v. US Metro, the plaintiff brought a civil lawsuit in Van Nuys, California, arising from a sexual assault committed by an employee of a transportation service provider. The case centered on claims of negligent hiring, negligent supervision, and the company’s failure to take reasonable steps to protect passengers from foreseeable harm.

Transportation companies that provide services to the public in California have a heightened duty of care toward their passengers – particularly when employees have access to vulnerable individuals in isolated settings. The lawsuit alleged that US Metro failed to properly screen its employees, failed to supervise staff adequately, and created conditions where a sexual assault became foreseeable and preventable. As a result of the assault, the plaintiff suffered severe emotional distress and psychological trauma and required ongoing mental health care and treatment.

After a trial in Los Angeles County, the jury returned a verdict of approximately $2.7 million in favor of the plaintiff, holding US Metro accountable for the negligence that allowed this assault to occur. This case sends a powerful message to transportation companies throughout California: the safety and well-being of every passenger is a legal obligation, not an afterthought. If you or someone you love was sexually assaulted or harmed by a transportation service employee in California, Feher Law is here to help you seek justice.