San Diego, CA

San Diego law firm suing Uber, Lyft following sexual assault allegations

Published

3 years ago

May 28, 2022

San Diego law firm suing Uber, Lyft following sexual assault allegations

OCEANSIDE, Calif. (KGTV) — An Oceanside mom of two says she remains to be traumatized one-year after a visit to get groceries in a ride-hailing automobile.

We’re defending her identification as a result of she is an alleged survivor of sexual assault. In November 2020, she says her Lyft driver assaulted her in entrance of her Oceanside dwelling.

“I used to be going to get out of the automotive and he climbed within the again and put his fingers down my pants and stated he needed intercourse. It was surreal and I used to be terrified and I had by no means been in a state of affairs like that earlier than in my life. I used to be screaming and instructed him to cease and I used to be calling the cops,” she alleges.

She stated it did not cease there, the driving force locked her inside his automotive and sped off down the highway.

“He was driving towards the seaside and I used to be yelling.”

He slowed down at one level and the lady managed to flee. A warrant for the driving force’s arrest has been issued by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Division, however he has not but been charged.

A Lyft spokesperson launched this assertion partly to ABC 10News:

As quickly as this incident was reported to us, we reached out to the rider to supply our full assist, completely eliminated the driving force from the Lyft neighborhood and made contact with legislation enforcement to help of their investigation.

The lady’s story is one among neary 300 instances towards Uber and Lyft San Diego’s Estey and Bomberger say it’s litigating. Trial lawyer Steve Estey, who has quite a few nationwide record-setting verdicts will tackle Lyft in September in what he says is the primary of it is form trial towards the ride-hailing firm.

He has filed mass tort lawsuits towards each Uber and Lyft.

“The rideshare platform has created a platform for sexual predators,” stated Stephen Estey of Estey and Bomberger.

Estey will argue the ride-hail firm was negligent in quite a few methods and failed to guard feminine passengers from a identified hazard. The lawsuit alleges “Lyft’s response to this sexual predator disaster amongst Lyft drivers has been appalingly insufficient.” Equally, the grievance towards Uber argues…”Uber induces younger, unaccompanied, intoxicated, or vulerable ladies to make use of its product with th expectation of security, all of the whle realizing that sexual abuse of Uber’s passengers in prevalent.”

“The background test may be very minimal and it is not fingerprint primarily based… and the shortage of supervision, there aren’t any cameras. They will not try this as a result of they know what it’ll present,” stated Estey.

The California Public Utilities Fee regulates ride-hailing corporations. It fined Uber $59 million {dollars} in December 2020 for failing handy over detailed knowledge about sexual assaults. In the end, the case was settled and Uber agreed to pay $9 million {dollars} in fines.

Of their Neighborhood Security Report, Uber reported 5,981 sexual assaults in 2017-2018.

Uber claims it accomplished greater than 2.3 billion journeys in 2017-2018. Throughout this time, greater than 3 million journeys occurred every day in america. When requested by ABC 10News what number of journeys have been taken by feminine single passengers, Uber stated the info didn’t exist. Uber claims it didn’t initially launch knowledge to the CPUC as a result of it contained non-public survivor data.

An Uber spokesperson instructed ABC 10News in a written assertion:

The CPUC needed the total names and contacts of the reporting get together…Uber has taken a survivor-centric strategy and won’t violate a survivor’s proper to privateness.

Lyft reported 4,158 sexual assaults from 2017-2019 in its Neighborhood Saftey Report.

The assault numbers within the Neighborhood Public Security report solely account for five out of 21 subcategories of sexual misconduct and sexual assault, with a variety from flirting to rape.

The experiences are voluntarily supplied and submitted by the ride-hail corporations. Estey says the numbers would seemingly be far higher if all subcategories have been considered. RAINN, the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence group gave guideance and helped to create the subcatergories, in accordance with an Uber spokesperson.

The 2021 Division of Justice statistics point out one in three ladies assaulted don’t report, together with one among Estey’s shoppers, who claims she was assaulted in San Diego’s gaslamp district in 2015.

She claims she was assaulted by an Uber driver who was giving her a experience to the Hilton resort after an evening of partying with mates. We’re defending her identification as a result of she is a survivor of sexual assault.

“I sort of froze, he took my breast out of my bra and began telling me inappropriate issues. Then he took the important thing to my room and adopted me as much as the room and tried to have intercourse with me. I did not suppose anybody would imagine me as a result of I’m a much bigger lady, however I’m hoping this may assist different ladies like me who could also be larger by coming ahead. I blamed myself for years over what occurred and I do know it isn’t my fault,” stated the lady.

ABC 10News supplied Uber with the lady’s experience receipt and account data with Estey’s permission. A spokesperson for Uber stated:

The small print reported by the rider are disturbing. We take these kinds of experiences significantly and started our investigation as quickly as we grew to become conscious of the allegations.

Uber confirmed with ABC 10News the driving force not has entry to the platform and hasn’t had entry to the platform for a number of years.

Estey says ladies are being assaulted in ride-hailing automobiles at an alarming fee in accordance with the Neighborhood PUblic Security Experiences, and most riders will not be conscious of the true threat they take everytime they enter a ride-hailing automobile.

“I’ve daughters and do not allow them to experience in a rideshare alone and if they’re I be certain that they’ve a buddy system in place or they do not experience within the entrance seat or proper rear passenger seat- that tends to be the place predators grope so it is a bit safer to position your self behind them,” stated Estey.

Each ride-hailing corporations have engineered and deployed an emergency app that passengers can use if they’re in peril.

In Could 2022, Uber rolled out a function that permits passengers to decide on feminine drivers. Each corporations developed a collection of in-app security options that permits riders to share their location with household and mates, join immediately with the ride-hail firm or 911 to entry emergency help.

However, Estey says the businesses have to do extra, beginning with cameras in all automobiles, finger-print background checks, and letting riders know of the chance.

Each Uber and Lyft say they proceed to prioritize security and stay dedicated to investigating know-how and increasing extra security insurance policies. In 2020, sexual assault and misconduct training was expanded for drivers. Each corporations additionally say drivers are re-screened yearly for offenses on a neighborhood, state and federal degree. Each corporations additionally share knowledge on drivers who’re reported for assault or misconduct.

Info on Uber’s security options may be discovered on-line right here and to learn their full response click on right here.

For data on Lyft’s security measures click on right here and their full response may be discovered on-line right here.

Listed here are the hyperlinks to the complaints lodged towards Uber and Lyft.

For a hyperlink to the Neighborhood Security Experiences click on right here.

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San Diego, CA

Los Angeles fire evacuees get help from San Diego hotels

Published

7 hours ago

January 9, 2025

Press Room

Los Angeles fire evacuees get help from San Diego hotels

As evacuees from the Los Angeles fires search frantically for temporary lodging, many of them are reaching out to San Diego County hotels, which have mobilized to provide deeply discounted room rates.

The San Diego Tourism Authority, in tandem with the local lodging association, has created a web page with a growing list of discounted accommodations, from the Bahia Resort Hotel and Catamaran to the Rancho Bernardo Inn and La Jolla Shores Hotel.

San Diego-based Evans Hotels, which has properties in the Mission Bay area and La Jolla, already has about two dozen bookings from L.A. residents forced to leave their homes following multiple firestorms in Pacific Palisades, Malibu and Altadena. Many simply want to get away from the smoke and fire blanketing Los Angeles right now, said Robert Gleason, CEO of Evans Hotels, which operates the Bahia and Catamaran resorts, in addition to the Lodge at Torrey Pines.

According to the lastest estimates from fire officials, there are more than 9,000 homes, businesses and other structures that have been destroyed by the Palisades and Eaton fires burning across Pacific Palisades and Altadena, which is near Pasadena.

Gleason said that at the Bahia and Catamaran hotels, Evans Hotels is offering 25% off standard room rates, 40% off suites, and a waiver of resort, parking and pet fees.

“We started getting calls first thing yesterday morning from evacuees, trying to book a reservation because hotels in L.A. were filling up pretty quickly,” Gleason said Thursday. “The reality is that none of the guests staying with us really want to be with us but are here out of necessity.

“We had a call with the executive committee of the San Diego County Lodging Association this morning, and everyone is trying to do whatever they can. In the lodging business we get to participate in really joyous times for people and also in times of great stress and challenge for people. We see both extremes.”

The Tourism Authority has assembled a list of offers that is being continually updated on a website it created related to fire relief. Among the more generous discounts is 50% off at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort in Carlsbad; a $99 daily rate at Humphreys Half Moon Inn on Shelter Island; and 50% off available rates at the La Jolla Shores Hotel and La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club. Expiration dates vary from property to property.

“We were monitoring conditions in San Diego to see if we would have any challenges here, but so far conditions look good,” said Kerri Kapich, chief operating officer for the Tourism Authority. “We had heard from a few hotels along the beach areas that they had calls from L.A. residents, and then thought we’re in a situation where we can reach out to our membership and other hotels in the community to see if they’d like to put offers out there. It’s gratifying to see hotels are doing that.”

In addition to local hotel discounts, Airbnb also has announced that it, too, is reaching out to those made homeless by the Los Angeles wildfires. It is offering free, temporary housing via a partnership with 211 LA to connect with those impacted by the fires.

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San Diego, CA

Mountain West men’s basketball power rankings: Utah State, San Diego State, Boise State lead the way

Published

15 hours ago

January 9, 2025

Press Room

Mountain West men’s basketball power rankings: Utah State, San Diego State, Boise State lead the way

In what will be the biggest day of the Mountain West men’s basketball season to date, Saturday looms large for all six of the conference’s top contenders.

The action-packed day begins with New Mexico (13-3, 5-0) hosting San Diego State (10-3, 3-1) at 11 a.m. Mountain time. UNLV (9-6, 3-1) and Colorado State (9-6, 3-1) will meet in Fort Collins at 2 p.m. with Boise State (12-4, 4-1) and No. 25 Utah State (15-1, 5-0) closing the night at Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

In the latest NCAA Tournament projection from ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, the MWC remained a two-bid league with Utah State (seven seed) and San Diego State (eight seed) earning spots. New Mexico was listed among Lunardi’s first eight out.

Here is a look at our midseason Mountain West power rankings.

Last result: 85-78 win at San Jose State (Tuesday)

Season record: 15-1, 5-0

Analysis: Utah State finally cracked the AP top 25 in the latest poll. Other than a 75-73 loss to Big West-leading UC San Diego, the Aggies have been perfect this season under first-year head coach Jared Calhoun.

Up next: Saturday vs. Boise State, 7 p.m., CBS Sports Network

Last result: 67-38 home win over Air Force (Wednesday)

Season record: 10-3, 3-1

Analysis: The Aztecs held a seven-point lead over Utah State with 90 seconds remaining before losing on a late Tucker Anderson 3-pointer. San Diego State has bounced back nicely with convincing wins over Boise State and Air Force.

Up next: Saturday at New Mexico, 11 a.m., CBS

Last result: 81-59 home win over UNLV (Tuesday)

Season record: 12-4, 4-1

Analysis: Boise State played arguably its best game of the season against UNLV, shutting down Dedan Thomas Jr. while getting strong offensive contributions from seven different players. When the Broncos’ offense is clicking, few MWC teams can match their firepower.

Up next: Saturday at Utah State, 7 p.m., CBS Sports Network

Last result: 61-53 win at Wyoming (Tuesday)

Season record: 13-3, 5-0

Analysis: Despite a strong body of work, the Lobos sit way down at No. 67 in the NET Rankings. A victory over San Diego State would provide a major boost to New Mexico’s NCAA Tournament resume.

Up next: Saturday vs. San Diego State, 11 a.m., CBS

Last result: 91-64 home win over Fresno State (Tuesday)

Season record: 9-6, 3-1

Analysis: The Rams have feasted on the bottom of the conference with victories over winless Fresno State, Nevada and San Jose State. Senior swingman Nique Clifford remains one of the MWC’s top players and is averaging a double-double at 16.6 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists.

Up next: Saturday vs. UNLV, 2 p.m., Mountain West Network

Last result: 81-59 loss at Boise State (Tuesday)

Season record: 9-6, 3-1

Analysis: UNLV took a step back Tuesday in a non-competitive loss at Boise State. The Rebels have one of the conference’s best players in Dedan Thomas Jr., but the sophomore point guard needs more help.

Up next: Saturday at Colorado State, 2 p.m., Mountain West Network

Last result: 82-81 overtime loss at New Mexico (Jan. 4)

Season record: 8-7, 0-4

Analysis: It’s been a nightmare start to MWC play for the Wolf Pack, who have lost their four conference games by 11 combined points. With upcoming games against Fresno State, Air Force and San Jose State, Nevada has a chance to get its season back on track.

Up next: Saturday at Fresno State, 5 p.m., Mountain West Network

Last result: 61-53 home loss to New Mexico (Tuesday)

Season record: 9-7, 2-3

Analysis: The Cowboys were outscored 43-21 after halftime in Tuesday’s loss to New Mexico. Wyoming does hold a three-point win over Nevada, but the Cowboys are staring at a tough upcoming schedule with a home game against Colorado State sandwiched between road trips to Boise and Las Vegas.

Up next: Jan. 14 at Boise State, 7 p.m., Mountain West Network

Last result: 85-78 home loss to Utah State

Season record: 7-10, 0-5

Analysis: Unlike the MWC’s bottom two teams, the Spartans have been quite competitive this season with single-digit losses to New Mexico, Boise State, UNLV and Utah State. Senior guard Josh Uduj, a Utah State transfer, is averaging 16.8 points per game for San Jose State.

Up next: Saturday at Air Force, 1 p.m., Mountain West Network

Last result: 91-64 loss at Colorado State (Tuesday)

Season record: 4-12, 0-5

Analysis: The Bulldogs have dropped 10 of their last 11 games following a 3-2 start to the season. First-year head coach Vance Walberg has his work cut out for him.

Up next: Saturday host Nevada, 5 p.m., Mountain West Network

Last result: 67-38 loss at San Diego State (Tuesday)

Season record: 3-12, 0-4

Analysis: Air Force was the victim of a 44-4 scoring run during Tuesday’s loss. That is … not good.

Up next: Saturday vs. San Jose State, 1 p.m., Mountain West Network

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San Diego, CA

Annie Crowell Kuzminsky

Published

23 hours ago

January 9, 2025

Press Room

Annie Crowell Kuzminsky

OBITUARY

Anne (Annie) Kuzminsky, beloved wife, mother, and sister passed away peacefully surrounded by her family, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 63.

Annie is survived by her husband Larry, her son Steven, her daughter Charlotte, her son Jack (Alex), her siblings Steven (Liz) Crowell of Houston, Texas; her brother Richard (Allison) Crowell of Pacific Palisades, California; her sister Karen (Gary) Wagner of Manhattan Beach, California; and her sister Catherine Crowell of Omaha, Nebraska.

Annie was born in Altadena, CA to James and Alice Crowell and grew up in San Mareno, CA. She attended college at Santa Clara University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. Annie then moved to San Diego, CA where she met and married Larry Kuzminsky in 1989.

While residing in San Diego, Annie worked for several years with the accounting firm of KPMG and obtained her CPA. She next worked for First National Bank for several years before leaving to spend more time with her children and work part time for 20 years as a consultant for Madison Square Properties. Annie was not tempted by the corporate ladder and received satisfaction from her work relationships and doing her job well.

Annie loved being a mom and raising her three children. She helped out at the elementary school, and later enjoyed going to the many soccer games, baseball games, and track meets they participated in. Annie also loved animals. As a teenager she talked her parents into having a dog (Mitsy) and cats (Spido and Dido). More recently Annie enjoyed fostering kittens which inevitably led to the adoption of several of them. Aside from pets, one of her more memorable experiences was a safari trip to Africa.

Annie’s favorite place was the family house at Capistrano Beach. She had many fond memories of get togethers there with college, work and neighborhood friends. During family trips, she enjoyed watching the kids play, walking on the beach looking for glass, and seeing the beautiful sunsets. It was a great place to relax.

Annie had a great laugh and was one of a kind in the best way. Her moral compass was set to “true north” of caring and doing right. Annie was always her authentic self and her friends and family loved her for it. She was a realist but had a knack for looking on the bright side. That was her strength, but the cancer took all she had. She has earned her rest but will be greatly missed.

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