Federal Court Shields Lyft from Liability in Driver Altercation, Citing Independent Contractor Status

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia granted summary judgment in favor of Lyft in a personal injury claim stemming from an altercation involving a Lyft driver.

The court found that the driver was an independent contractor and noted that the employer of an independent contractor generally cannot be held liable for the independent contractor’s conduct. The court rejected the plaintiff’s contention that Lyft owed a non-delegable duty.

The court also rejected the claims for negligent hiring and negligent training as those claims do not apply to employers of independent contractors.

This is a favorable decision for rideshare companies, supporting their defenses to claims of direct and vicarious liability.