Arbitrator orders Uber and driver to pay $40 million in wrongful death award

Arbitration Award Details

Retired judge Richard A. Stone, acting as an arbitrator, ordered Uber and driver Vu Tran to pay $40 million to the parents of Emily Normandin-Parker. The award, issued in July 2026, allocates $20 million to each parent. Normandin-Parker, 23, was struck and killed on a California freeway after Tran left her and a friend at a triangular gore point beside an off-ramp following an argument over a cleaning fee.

Incident Background

On August 12, 2023, Normandin-Parker and her friend Luna Moore were riding home in an Uber when Moore became sick. Tran pulled over on State Route 73 in Orange County at a gore point, which the arbitrator described as an unsafe and illegal area. Normandin-Parker, in an inebriated state, wandered into traffic and was killed after Tran left them following an argument with Moore over a cleaning fee.

Arbitrator's Findings

The arbitrator found that Tran knew both women were intoxicated and could have stopped at a safe location, such as the nearby MacArthur Boulevard exit. GPS data indicated Tran drove near Normandin-Parker's body as he left and then stopped at the next exit to contact Uber about the cleaning fee. Stone largely discredited Tran's testimony, stating he showed more concern for his car than his passengers.

Uber's Stance on Liability

Uber stated to ABC News that the arbitrator was incorrect in holding the company legally responsible for the events. This stance relates to California's Proposition 22, approved in 2020, which classifies app-based drivers as independent contractors rather than employees or agents, potentially limiting company liability for their actions.