Judge Richard A. Stone ruled that Uber must pay $40 million to the parents of Emily Normandin-Parker, a UCLA graduate who died after being abandoned by her Uber driver on a California freeway in August 2023. The judge criticized driver Vu Tran for his reckless actions, which included leaving passengers at an unsafe location and demanding a cleaning fee. Emily's parents received $20 million each following a five-day arbitration hearing where they accused both Tran and Uber of negligence. Despite the ruling, Uber has attempted to keep details confidential and continues to deny full responsibility, arguing that it had taken steps to improve driver safety practices.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-18,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On August 12, 2023, Emily Normandin-Parker, a 23-year-old UCLA graduate, was killed after her Uber driver left her and a friend on the side of State Route 73 in Orange County, California. The women had vomited inside the car, prompting the driver to kick them out at an unsafe location near an exit ramp. Emily was subsequently hit by another vehicle while waiting for help.
In a five-day arbitration hearing, Uber argued that the driver was an independent contractor and not their responsibility under California law. However, arbitrator Richard A. Stone ruled against Uber, ordering it to pay $40 million to Emily’s parents, Carol Normandin and Ken Parker, with $20 million going to each parent. The company has contested the decision.
The ruling aims to highlight safety issues in ride-hailing services and may impact how companies like Uber are held accountable for the actions of their drivers.
Written for “Uber Wrongful Death Settlement” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 8 other(s) covering the same event.
Uber has been ordered to pay $40 million to the family of a UCLA graduate who was killed when her driver abandoned her on a freeway.
asserted
driver → order → freeway
Judge Richard A. Stone ruled that driver Vu Tran “needlessly placed” Emily Normandin-Parker and her friend in danger when he left the pair on State Route 73 in California, according to Panish, Shea, Ravipudi, the law firm representing the family, on Thursday.
uncertain
he → rule → Thursday
“Emily did everything Uber tells riders to do—she made the responsible choice not to drive and we trusted Uber to get her home safely.
asserted
we → do → her
That trust cost our daughter her life,” Emily’s parents Carol Normandin and Ken Parker said.
asserted
parents → cost → life
Normandin-Parker, 23, was killed in the early hours of August, 12 2023, following a night out with her pal, Luna Moore, in Costa Mesa.
asserted
Parker → kill → Mesa
The pair turned to the ride-sharing app, but Moore vomited in driver Tran’s car and he ordered the pair to get out.
asserted
he → turn → pair
Normandin-Parker was struck by traffic after Tran parked at a gore point that separated an exit ramp and the California State Route 73 freeway.
asserted
that → strike → ramp
She was hit by a car while an apoplectic Moore argued with the driver, who wanted a cleaning fee.
asserted
who → hit → fee
Normandin and Parker accused Tran and Uber of negligence and were awarded $20 million each following a five-day arbitration hearing in March.
asserted
Normandin → accuse → March
Stone, a retired Los Angeles County judge who presided over the hearing, scolded Tran for showing “far more worry for his new car than he did for his passengers,” according to court documents seen by The Post.
“In a fit of anger, he needlessly placed them (and himself) in danger by illegally stopping in the gore point,” Stone ruled.
uncertain
Stone → preside → point
Tran allegedly racked up complaints from previous passengers over his “reckless” behavior, lawyers argued.
uncertain
lawyers → rack → behavior
His previous riders claimed Tran “cannot drive” and that he was “the least safe” ride that one customer had experienced.
asserted
customer → claim → that
Tran tried to claim he wasn’t at fault because Normandin-Parker walked into the traffic – an argument the judge rejected.
uncertain
judge → try → traffic
Uber chiefs tried to keep the award confidential – threatening a $10 million penalty against the parents if they spoke out.
asserted
they → try → parents
“We didn’t have much time to absorb the award before Uber almost immediately started contending that it could not be made public and then sent an agreement to us requiring non-disparagement, the $10 million penalty for saying anything bad about Uber,” Parker told Good Morning America Thursday.
uncertain
Parker → have → Uber
An Uber spokesperson said its “thoughts continue to be with the Normandin-Parker family.”
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thoughts → say → family
“While we respect the arbitration process, we believe the arbitrator was wrong in holding Uber legally responsible for the tragic events of that night,” they added.
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they → respect → night
“We have continued to strengthen our approach to safety over the years.. Including additional guidance to drivers about avoiding drop-offs in unsafe locations.”
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We → continue → locations
But Normandin said she “absolutely” believes the ride-share company put profits over her daughter’s safety.
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company → say → safety
The family doesn’t believe Uber is showing accountability for what happened.
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what → believe → accountability
“The reason we’re talking is because he [Tran] didn’t take responsibility and neither did Uber,” Parker said.
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Parker → talk → responsibility
“They’re still not taking responsibility.
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They → take → responsibility
We do not want this to ever happen to another mother or father.
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this → want → mother
”
Start your day with all you need to know
Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.
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Report → start → news
Tributes were paid to Laguna Beach native Normandin-Parker, who graduated from the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television with a major in theater, following her death.
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who → pay → death
“Emily was anything but ordinary,” her family said in an obituary.
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family → say → obituary
She was a bright light, our Emily, and her life had just begun.
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life → begin → ?
“She loved being with family, writing, drag shows, books, the ocean, animals, driving, concerts, music festivals, plays, musicals, movies, painting, drawing, the outdoors, baking with her dad and gardening with her mom.”
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She → love → mom
Her family created the Emily Normandin-Parker Foundation in her honor, which calls for greater rideshare safety.
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which → create → safety
Meanwhile, Moore was awarded $300,000 following the arbitration hearing.
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Moore → award → hearing
The Aporia
